‘Neeraj Chopra has the ability to break the 90-metre barrier at Tokyo 2020’ -Anju Bobby George
The onus is on Chopra to clinch a medal for India in track and field event at Tokyo 2020.
Neeraj Chopra is seen as an athlete who could finally end the country’s long wait for a medal at the Olympics in track and field events.
The 23-year-old javelin thrower has been in the spotlight ever since a 86.48m throw in Poland at the World Under-20 Championships in 2016 saw him win the gold, becoming the first-ever Indian to win a junior athletic crown.
Neeraj’s personal best is a throw of 88.07m at the Indian Grand Prix (IGP) in Patiala, India in March this year and he looks primed for the Olympics. But the competition at Tokyo 2020 will certainly be tough as Chopra will be up against Germany’s Johannes Vetter, whose personal best is a throw of 97.76 m, Poland’s Marcin Krukowski at 89.55 m and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago with a personal best of 90.16 m.
Chopra has been in Europe for the final leg of preparations for Olympics however, his recent scores have been 83.18 m in Lisbon, 80.96 m in Karlstad, Sweden, and 86.79 in Kuortane Grand Prix in Finland.
Anju Bobby George, a former Olympian and who serves as the senior vice-president of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), mentioned that while Neeraj Chopra can break the 90m barrier but given the fact that he has missed several competitions before the Games due to Covid-19 restrictions, the going would not be easy.
“He is a junior world champion. Yes, of course, he is a bright medal chance for our country. He has got all the experience, but he needs to deliver, perform on the day. Lot of challenges, like 90+ throwers are there from different countries. He has the ability to break that barrier as well.
“We are just waiting for his performance. Unfortunately, he also missed many competitions before Olympics. That exposure is missing. After the first round (qualification) we can say something about his medal chance,” George told Olympics.com.
When will Neeraj Chopra's campaign at Tokyo 2020 begin?
Chopra's campaign will begin on August 4 in the men's javelin throw qualification event.