India`s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, has been training hard at the National Institute of Sport in Patiala but fears that the lack of exposure to international competitions could hamper his prospects of winning a medal at the Tokyo Olympics (July 23-August 8).

Out due to injury 

Chopra, 23, who bettered his own national record (88.06m) with a throw of 88.07m at the Indian Grand Prix last March in Patiala, has not participated in any international event for the last two years. “In 2019, I was out due to an [elbow] injury and since 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic hampered things. If there are no international competitions there is little use of training. If we are thinking of winning an Olympic medal then it’s necessary to compete with the world’s top athletes at international competitions,” Chopra said in reply to mid-day’s question during a virtual media interaction organised by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday.