Neeraj Chopra Returns to Doha, Reconnects With Roots Ahead of Asian Games, CWG
The first thing Neeraj Chopra wants everyone to know is simple: he is fit again. After a frustrating nine-month spell disrupted by multiple injuries, India’s Olympic champion returns to competition this week in Doha — the venue where he finally breached the elusive 90-metre mark last year with a throw of 90.23m.
“It’s amazing to be back in the competition season, especially in Doha,” Chopra said. “I feel really good and really fit.”
The 28-year-old spent the build-up to his comeback training at the Swiss Olympic Centre in Magglingen, a quiet mountain base overlooking Biel. Far removed from packed stadiums and championship pressure, the setting offered exactly what he needed.
“It’s in the mountains, it’s very quiet, and you can focus on your training and your technique,” he said. The calm environment stood in stark contrast to the difficult end of last season, when Chopra pushed himself to compete at the World Championships in Tokyo despite carrying a back injury.
“I don’t think competing there was a good decision because I already knew I had some problems,” he admitted. “But because that was the last competition of the year, I wanted to compete there.”
The decision backfired. Chopra finished eighth with 84.03m — his lowest placing since 2019 and the end of a remarkable streak of 26 consecutive top-two finishes.
The physical problems did not stop there.
“After the back injury during the World Championships, I had another one in my ankle and then in my shoulder,” he said. “As athletes, when we try to manage one injury, we end up getting another one.”
The recovery process was deliberate rather than rushed. Along with his support staff and physiotherapist, Chopra chose to focus on rebuilding his body instead of forcing an early return. He only resumed throwing around six weeks ago and confirmed his participation in Doha barely a week before the event.
“Then I said yes. It’s my favourite place to open my season,” he said.
Back to Basics
The biggest change in Chopra’s setup has come off the field.
Following the World Championships, he parted ways with legendary Czech coach Jan Zelezny, under whom he crossed 90 metres for the first time. While Chopra remains appreciative of that partnership, he felt the need to return to a more familiar approach.
“After the World Championships, I thought I needed to work more with my own ideas,” he said.
That decision brought him back to Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary, the coach who introduced him to the sport in Panipat.
“When I started javelin, I started with him, so he knows my story from the last 15 or 16 years,” Chopra said.
Rather than making technical overhauls, the focus has been on rediscovering his natural rhythm.
“We are not working on anything specific or anything too deep. I am working on my natural technique,” he explained.
His long-time physiotherapist remains a key figure in the setup.
“He has been there for the last eight or nine years. I have a good team now. I am very happy.”
Why He Rarely Watches His 90m Throw
Despite achieving the biggest throw of his career in Doha last year, Chopra says he has rarely revisited the footage.
Instead, he prefers watching qualification rounds from major championships.
“I really like my qualification throws from the Olympics and World Championships because at that time I am relaxed,” he said.
“Whenever I compete in the final of a major competition, I try really hard and become very aggressive, and then I forget my technique.”
“I don’t like to watch my throws from the finals. The throws in qualification are technically better.”
Commonwealth Games Loom Large
While Doha marks the beginning of his season, Chopra’s primary targets remain the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Interestingly, he believes the Commonwealth Games could be every bit as demanding as the Olympics or World Championships.
“Even Anderson Peters, Keshorn Walcott and Julius Yego will be there. All of them have thrown beyond 90 metres,” he said. “The Commonwealth Games will be no less competitive than the Olympics or the World Championships.”
The competition in men’s javelin has never been deeper. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage arrives as the world leader after a stunning 92.62m effort in Rome, while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem holds the Olympic record at 92.97m. Kenya’s Julius Yego remains one of the sport’s most experienced contenders.
Chopra was quick to praise Pathirage’s rise.
“He is a really good guy and a good friend of mine. I am happy for him. It’s really big what he has achieved for Sri Lanka.”
As for whether Doha could witness another 90-metre throw from him, Chopra is making no grand promises.
“This is my first competition of the season. I will try my best. Let’s see.”
For an athlete whose past year has been dominated by injuries and uncertainty, that cautious optimism may be the strongest statement of all.
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