The athletics season is about to start, and for India alone, the biggest focus will be javelin specialist Neeraj Chopra, without an iota of doubt. The 26-year-old begins his campaign on May 10 at the Doha Diamond League, where he is of course, a contender. But with his competition date coming closer, the one question being asked from him once again is, ‘When is Neeraj Chopra breaching the 90m mark’?
Well, Neeraj has spoken on it numerous times and shed light on it on Thursday as well, while talking to the media. And in lighter vein, he went on to say, “I have been stuck between 88m and 90m from 2018. You guys keep asking me the 90m question, who knows Kishore Jena achieves the landmark before me. It would be great. Yes, we have come a long way in javelin, but that 90m mark has to be achieved.”
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Believe It or Not, Neeraj Chopra Has Crossed 90m
While, as long as Neeraj is consistently does well for India, it doesn’t really matter if he crosses the mark or not, but it certainly has become a sort of a mental block for sure. But who knows, just one throw over 90m in a competition might just lead to one over 91 or 92m as well.
However, not many know, that Neeraj Chopra has breached the mark, albeit in practice. Yes. His coach recently clarified that Neeraj achieved a distance of over 90m in a practice session. Klaus Bartonietz said that the distance was crossed in Turkey last year. The Paavo Nurmi website quoted Klaus saying that, Neeraj “threw 90.40 in training a year ago in spring in Turkey at the camp in Belek”.
“90 meters could have already been broken in the Stockholm record throw (of 89.94m, Chopra’s PB). In Stockholm, Chopra threw 20-30 centimeters from behind the line, so it was a 90-metre throw. 90 metres is therefore only a matter of time. However, we say that it’s just a number.”
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