On the back of an exceptional record, the defending Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion, Neeraj Chopra would be gunning to repeat the Tokyo 2020 glory in Paris 2024. Chopra is undisputedly India’s premier Gold medal hope in the impending Paris Olympics. The Paris Olympics are scheduled to begin from July 26, 2024.
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Neeraj Chopra Revels What Makes Him Channel Inner Haryanvi On The Field
Decorated would be an understatement if one were to define Neeraj Chopra‘s achievements in the Javelin throw. India’s Golden Boy is standing on the verge of enlivening it even more. Come the Paris Olympics, Chopra will have the opportunity to become the first Indian to hold two Olympic Gold medals. Ahead of the marquee event, Neeraj Chopra sat down for an interview with Sportstar. In the conversation, Chopra revealed what thoughts cross his mind when he is on the field and what he tells himself when his intended throw does not meet the expected mark.
“The only person you can talk with is yourself! If I think the last throw was good, I’ll tell myself I can do even better. If it wasn’t good, I would tell myself that I needed to do better. I’m usually telling myself to do better now because at both the Budapest World Championships and then at the Doha Diamond League, I really didn’t start well. People think I’ll always make winning throws on my first attempt, but it isn’t like that. I try my best, but it takes time for things to come together. Most of my conversations are internal, although sometimes I’ll also go up to the coach to ask for advice on changes I can make. “
Chopra divulged that he goes hard on himself when he does not attain his set standards on the field and channels his inner Haryanvi to motivate himself.
Those internal conversations are very blunt; they are said with some amount of khundak (ill will). I don’t curse myself or anything, but I’ll tell myself in Haryanvi, ‘Tu itna bhi nahi kar sakta?’ (You can’t even do this much.) I’ll motivate myself by telling myself that I must do this. I can’t go without completing what I am there for. Whatever I have inside me, I must give it out on the field. I’ll remind myself to keep my focus on throwing with proper technique. If my technique on the runway isn’t good, then that will mean I’ll have to compensate by increasing the speed of my arm, which isn’t the best way to throw.” Chopra concluded.
