NEW DELHI: Neeraj Chopra sets the bar for himself and then breaks it. The 25-year-old, reigning Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth champion, has been a trend setter— breaking the glass ceiling, attaining heights no Indian has achieved before. On May 23, he became the world’s number one javelin thrower with 1455 points, something no Indian athlete has got so far.
Speaking to Blitz India, Chopra said that he had been aiming at this position ever since he won the Diamond League Finals in Zurich in September last year. “I was itching to be the World No.1 more so after I won the year-ending Diamond League Finals. That triumph in Zurich was something very special.
Also, my performances have been on an upswing ever since I lost to Anderson Peters (closest rival) in the World Championships last year. I have managed to beat him on two occasions after the World Championships,” he added. Consistency has been the cornerstone of Chopra’s career.
So far, he has had the uncanny ability to win all the major titles, be it the Commonwealth, Asian or Olympic title and a silver medal at the World Championships. When asked how he managed to win all the major titles in such a fiercely competitive sport, he said the key to his success lay in taking one event at a time.
“For me, success is a very throworiented aspect. I just try to focus on giving my best on my particular throw. I don’t look beyond my throws or try to think too much about winning a title.. it’s that simple.”
Coming up, Chopra has a packed schedule with as many as eight to ten competitions where his mettle will be tested. His focus though are going to be two events — the World Championship which will be held in Budapest, Hungary in August and the Asian Games which take place in Hangzhou, China in September and October.
