‘Health is Paramount’ - Neeraj Chopra Focuses on Fitness Over Competitions Ahead of Paris Olympics

With just over a month left before he defends his Olympic title in Paris, Neeraj Chopra has stepped away from the competition circuit. Instead, he is dedicating his time to perfecting his technique, ensuring he is in peak condition for the Games.

There have been concerns about Chopra’s limited participation in competitions this season. However, he remains confident in his decision to prioritize his health over competing.

“This is the time to fix and improve things,” Neeraj told ESPN in an exclusive interview. “I will address whatever needs improvement. For the next two weeks, I can increase the intensity of my training, and then it will be time to fine-tune everything.” He added with a hearty laugh.

Neeraj’s ability to stay relaxed and unaffected by external pressures is one of his greatest strengths, much to the delight of his Indian fans. Speaking from his training base in Saarbrucken, Germany, he explained that his current regimen involves high-intensity sessions designed to bring out his best performance. Despite the hard work, he finds joy in the process.

“I enjoy training, especially at this stage before a major competition. If you look at my program from 2-3 months ago, it was very intense with a lot of load on the body. Now, my workouts are less in volume but more intense, aiming to get my body to its peak condition.”

One of the main focuses of his training is to reduce the impact on the groin muscle of his blocking leg. The block is crucial in javelin throwing as it transfers the momentum and power from the legs to the hips and then to the throwing arm.

“I need to strengthen my blocking leg because that’s when my groin gets strained,” he said. “We’re working on reducing the impact on the groin and managing the pressure.”

Neeraj had to miss the Commonwealth Games last year due to a groin injury, which resurfaced in May, causing discomfort in his adductor. This issue has limited him to just three competitions before the Paris Olympics, compared to five before the Tokyo Olympics.

“I could have competed in more events, but I realized that my health is paramount. Even if I feel the slightest discomfort or like I’m pushing myself too much in training, I’ve learned to take a break.”

This is why he withdrew from the Ostrava Golden Spike in late May and decided to skip the Paris Diamond League next week.

He admitted that he wouldn’t have had this mindset before the Tokyo Olympics. “Back then, if I had an entry in a competition, I would definitely go and compete no matter what. But now, with more experience, I can make better decisions.”

This cautious approach is also why Neeraj didn’t push himself to the maximum in two of the three competitions he participated in this year. His best throw at the Federation Cup was 82.27m, and at the Paavo Nurmi Games, it was 85.97m, both among his lowest distances since becoming an Olympic champion.

“At the Federation Cup, I didn’t feel the need to perform at my best. I had competed in the Doha Diamond League just four days earlier, and the heat in Bhubaneswar was intense. Given the travel, I hadn’t fully recovered, so I didn’t give it my 100%.”

After a break due to the groin issue, Neeraj competed at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku. Even there, the focus was on assessing his body’s condition rather than the distance of his throw.

“I was happy with my performance in Turku, but I felt there was more work to do. I was slower on the runway compared to my usual speed. I want that speed back, and for that, I need to be fully confident in my fitness and my groin’s condition.”

Despite a mixed season, Neeraj’s 88.36m throw at the Doha Diamond League ranks #4 in the world in 2024. As he often says, all it takes is one good throw.

For now, Neeraj continues his routine as he prepares for the biggest competition of his career. He jokes about the repetitive nature of an athlete’s life but quickly adds that he enjoys every bit of it. “We follow the same routine for a long time, repeating the same things: workout, eat, hydrate, sleep, and repeat. But I enjoy it.”