New Delhi: Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra says he is keeping a cool head amid growing expectations of crossing the 90-metre mark in javelin throw, emphasizing that his focus remains firmly on refining his technique and peaking at the right time — especially for the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Speaking ahead of the prestigious Golden Spike Athletics meet in Ostrava, the 27-year-old said, “I feel good, but I don’t want to put any pressure on myself for 90m. I’ll try hard, of course, but I’m focusing more on improving my technique. I’ve already crossed 90 metres this year, so it’s about getting everything aligned now.”
Fresh off his recent win at the Paris Diamond League, where he recorded an impressive 88.16m throw ahead of Germany’s Julian Weber, Chopra is drawing confidence from a productive training stint in Nymburk, Czech Republic.
The Golden Spike meet holds a special place in Chopra’s heart. “As a kid, I watched videos and photos of legends like Usain Bolt competing here. I came last year, but due to injury, I couldn’t compete. So I’m really looking forward to it this time,” he shared.
While Ostrava is a key stop in his calendar, Chopra made it clear that his season’s primary target remains the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, scheduled for September 13–21. “The main goal is the World Championships. Everything is building towards that,” he said.
Closer to home, Chopra is also gearing up for a landmark event in Indian athletics — the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5 in Bengaluru. “This will be my first serious competition in India featuring international athletes. I still have a lot to manage before the event, but I’m really excited,” he said. “It feels good that people in India are recognising sports other than cricket now.”
A major part of Chopra’s recent evolution has been his partnership with Czech legend and three-time Olympic gold medallist Jan Železný, who also holds the world record in javelin. “I’m very happy to work with such a great athlete and coach,” Chopra said, adding with a laugh, “When we were at the Diamond League in Doha, a lot of Indian fans were eager to take pictures with Jan. They can be quite intense sometimes! I was a bit worried for him.”
Železný, who has been instrumental in refining Chopra’s technique, praised his protégé and noted the broader impact he has had on the sport. “Neeraj has opened doors for athletes from other countries. It’s great for the javelin throw, and for athletics in general, which is more than just sprint events,” Železný said.
As Chopra continues his steady buildup to Tokyo, his calm mindset and technical focus seem to be setting the stage for more milestones — with or without the elusive 90-metre headline.
