Let's just leave it to the gods: Chopra on 90m and beyond

Having missed out on breaching the elusive 90m mark at the Paris Olympics 2024 twotime Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has left that widely debated matter to the godsAfter all Chopra has been chasing that milestone for years and the wait got longer when his only legal throw of 8945m got him a silver at the Paris Olympics 2024 earlier this monthA backtoback medal at the Summer Games was a monumental feat for an Indian athlete but it was way short of Arshad Nadeems sensational 9297m that comfortably secured a historic gold for the PakistaniNursing a longstanding groin injury Chopra managed to be on the podium and now he will be seen in the Lausanne Diamond League starting August 22After a busy couple of days post the Olympic final on August 8 Chopra started training in Switzerland and is determined to finish the season on a high despite being restricted by the injuryI need to leave it to gods now he said when asked about his target throw in the foreseeable futureI Just want to prepare well and see where the javelin goes There has already been talk about 90m now I feel just let it be In Paris I thought it would happen and it could have happenedNow I will give my 100 percent in the next two or three events and see what happens he said in a virtual interaction arranged by JSWAlso ReadDash for FD Wadia Trophy Gr 3Following the seasonending Diamond League in Brussels from September 1314 Chopra will consult the doctors on his groin injury with surgery being the most likely option The 26yearold has been managing the injury since winning the gold in the World Championships last yearWith Arshad producing an Olympic record throw in the final Chopra needed to up his game but he said he could not do that because of his physical stateI felt I could increase the distance My two no throws in qualification and final they were second and third best throws and my season best as well To increase distance I need to be injury freeIn my mind I know need to give 100 percent but because of the injury I am not able to give 100 percent My body and mind stops me from making that extra effortWhat is most important in training session is throwing sessions which I have not been able to do as much as I would like due to injury If you cant throw regularly then you are not able to work on your technique I need to throw as much as I can The rest is all fine said ChopraHe needs to make a few technical tweaks in his gameWhen we run with the javelin there is also lot of strain on groin when we take cross step But right now I am not able to tweak my technique Also my line of the javelin was also not perfectArc speed was good in Paris but the line was disturbed If it would be straighter I could have got two three metres out of it However not for once I thought that Arshads throw could not be bettered My mind was ready to push the limits but body was not said the champion athleteChopra needs to finish in the topsix of Diamond League Meetings series to qualify for the season finale in BrusselsI came to Switzerland for training ahead of Diamond League Luckily I did not aggravate my injury as I took extra care of that I thought of continuing my season like most other athletes There is one month to go for season end I will go to the doctors in free time he saidWe need to spot talent better to become sporting powerhouseIndia finished an abysmal 71st in the Paris medals tally with five bronze and Chopras silverAsked what India needs to do to become a sporting power Chopra said Overseas there are more talent spotters For example I took up javelin I dont know how I liked it so I pursued it But if we try multiple sports and pick the best one on recommendations of an expert that way Indian sport can move forward We need to spot talent betterAlso we cant just focus on one sport We need to be good in all sports I feel the leaders in the medals tally China USA Japan They all are powerful nations in various fields sports play a big part as well in lifting the profile of the nationHope we do well in the next Olympics and qualify for FIFA World Cup as well Cricket we already are doing well There is no dearth of talent mental we also need to have more coaches added Chopra who plans to open javelin academies going forwardWith agency inputs