With eyes on 2022, Tokyo 2020 champion Neeraj Chopra returns to training
The Indian javelin thrower took some time off after winning the gold medal at Tokyo Olympics but is now back to prepare for a busy 2022 season.
India’s ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has resumed his training, nearly two months after winning a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Neeraj Chopra has joined the athletics national camp at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, Punjab. The camp began on October 15 and will go on till December 31.
On August 7, 2021, Neeraj Chopra made history when he threw the javelin 87.58m to win the Olympic gold medal, India’s first in athletics and only the country’s second-ever individual gold medal after shooter Abhinav Bindra in Beijing 2008.
Neeraj Chopra’s popularity skyrocketed after his feat. He received a hero’s welcome and had to attend multiple felicitation ceremonies across the country.
Due to the busy schedule, Neeraj Chopra decided not to compete for the rest of the 2021 season and took some time off from the sport.
However, the 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra is now back on the track, preparing for what promises to be a demanding 2022 season.
Chopra will be defending his Commonwealth Games and Asian Games titles whilst having an eye on the world championships in July next year.
The Indian javelin thrower will continue to train with biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz.
Neeraj Chopra will be the latest big name to join the athletics national camp at NIS, where 148 athletes are listed to take part. Sprinters Hima Das, Dutee Chand and discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur are already in Patiala.
Hima Das, who had contracted COVID-19 earlier this month, has now tested negative. Two-time Olympian race walker KT Irfan is a notable absentee from the camp.