CWG: Neeraj Chopra focused on giving his best, not obsessed with 90m mark
Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra said winning titles is more important than chasing the 90m mark, adding that consistency remains his biggest focus ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has said he is not obsessed with crossing the 90-metre mark every time he competes, stressing that winning major titles and maintaining consistency matter more than chasing a particular distance. Ahead of his return to the Commonwealth Games, Chopra said his focus remains on producing his best performance, regardless of conditions.
The reigning world champion finally breached the coveted 90m barrier with a personal best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League last year, ending years of speculation over when he would achieve the milestone. However, the Indian star said distance has never been his primary target in major championships.
"No, I don't feel that pressure, nor do I obsess over a specific distance. As an athlete, my goal is always to improve my distance," Chopra said in response to a PTI query.
"I always feel in major Games, the main challenge is winning gold among the best athletes in the world. The second thing is distance. So I feel I need to keep increasing my distance."
Chopra said weather and other external factors can often dictate how far athletes are able to throw, making consistency an equally important quality at the highest level.
"But when the conditions are tough, we are not able to get the distance. In that case, we have to be consistent. So I feel I should maintain my consistency and see how I can also increase my distance," he said.
Having finally crossed the 90m mark, Chopra said he still wants to push his personal best further.
"I definitely want to improve my throw."
The men's javelin competition has become increasingly competitive in Asia, with Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lanka's Diamond League winner Rumesh Pathirage and Chopra regularly challenging one another on the international circuit. Chopra believes the growing competition is helping all the athletes improve.
"That's a good thing. When the competition is tough, we are able to push each other more. Especially in South Asia, there is a lot of strong competition now. Everyone will push themselves here," Chopra said.
'TOUGH FIELD IN CWG'
Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since winning gold on his debut at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. He missed the Birmingham 2022 edition because of injury and said he is looking forward to competing again at an event that played a significant role in his career.
"The field is quite tough. Olympic and World Championship, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallists are here. All of them perform in the Diamond League."
With rain and gusty winds forecast during the competition, Chopra said he has already started preparing for the conditions and believes mental strength will be crucial.
"I was doing some training throws yesterday. The conditions are tough, but they are the same for everyone," he said.
"No matter how bad the conditions are, we have to stay mentally strong. I always think about how to produce the absolute best throw in the worst conditions."
The 28-year-old also said he is satisfied with his fitness after recovering from injury and feels he is in a much better place physically.
"It is good now. I played my first competition in Doha after recovering, and it went well. I worked on my weaknesses and fitness, and I feel much better now."
Reflecting on his return to the Commonwealth Games after eight years, Chopra said the memories of his triumph in Australia remain special as it marked the beginning of his rise on the senior international stage.
"I have very good memories of the Commonwealth Games. It was my first senior competition at the Commonwealth Games, and I essentially started my senior career there when I won gold," he said.
"It's been eight years now, and finally I am back here."
"As I always say, when you represent your country, big Games are always special."
"I am happy that I am back on the field, I am feeling good, and I have been working on my game for a while now. The nature of the competition has changed a lot in the last eight years," he said.
Chopra will begin his Commonwealth Games campaign on July 30, when the men's javelin qualification event is scheduled.
Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has said he is not obsessed with crossing the 90-metre mark every time he competes, stressing that winning major titles and maintaining consistency matter more than chasing a particular distance. Ahead of his return to the Commonwealth Games, Chopra said his focus remains on producing his best performance, regardless of conditions.
The reigning world champion finally breached the coveted 90m barrier with a personal best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League last year, ending years of speculation over when he would achieve the milestone. However, the Indian star said distance has never been his primary target in major championships.
"No, I don't feel that pressure, nor do I obsess over a specific distance. As an athlete, my goal is always to improve my distance," Chopra said in response to a PTI query.
"I always feel in major Games, the main challenge is winning gold among the best athletes in the world. The second thing is distance. So I feel I need to keep increasing my distance."
Chopra said weather and other external factors can often dictate how far athletes are able to throw, making consistency an equally important quality at the highest level.
"But when the conditions are tough, we are not able to get the distance. In that case, we have to be consistent. So I feel I should maintain my consistency and see how I can also increase my distance," he said.
Having finally crossed the 90m mark, Chopra said he still wants to push his personal best further.
"I definitely want to improve my throw."
The men's javelin competition has become increasingly competitive in Asia, with Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lanka's Diamond League winner Rumesh Pathirage and Chopra regularly challenging one another on the international circuit. Chopra believes the growing competition is helping all the athletes improve.
"That's a good thing. When the competition is tough, we are able to push each other more. Especially in South Asia, there is a lot of strong competition now. Everyone will push themselves here," Chopra said.
'TOUGH FIELD IN CWG'
Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since winning gold on his debut at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. He missed the Birmingham 2022 edition because of injury and said he is looking forward to competing again at an event that played a significant role in his career.
"The field is quite tough. Olympic and World Championship, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallists are here. All of them perform in the Diamond League."
With rain and gusty winds forecast during the competition, Chopra said he has already started preparing for the conditions and believes mental strength will be crucial.
"I was doing some training throws yesterday. The conditions are tough, but they are the same for everyone," he said.
"No matter how bad the conditions are, we have to stay mentally strong. I always think about how to produce the absolute best throw in the worst conditions."
The 28-year-old also said he is satisfied with his fitness after recovering from injury and feels he is in a much better place physically.
"It is good now. I played my first competition in Doha after recovering, and it went well. I worked on my weaknesses and fitness, and I feel much better now."
Reflecting on his return to the Commonwealth Games after eight years, Chopra said the memories of his triumph in Australia remain special as it marked the beginning of his rise on the senior international stage.
"I have very good memories of the Commonwealth Games. It was my first senior competition at the Commonwealth Games, and I essentially started my senior career there when I won gold," he said.
"It's been eight years now, and finally I am back here."
"As I always say, when you represent your country, big Games are always special."
"I am happy that I am back on the field, I am feeling good, and I have been working on my game for a while now. The nature of the competition has changed a lot in the last eight years," he said.
Chopra will begin his Commonwealth Games campaign on July 30, when the men's javelin qualification event is scheduled.
Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has said he is not obsessed with crossing the 90-metre mark every time he competes, stressing that winning major titles and maintaining consistency matter more than chasing a particular distance. Ahead of his return to the Commonwealth Games, Chopra said his focus remains on producing his best performance, regardless of conditions.
The reigning world champion finally breached the coveted 90m barrier with a personal best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League last year, ending years of speculation over when he would achieve the milestone. However, the Indian star said distance has never been his primary target in major championships.
"No, I don't feel that pressure, nor do I obsess over a specific distance. As an athlete, my goal is always to improve my distance," Chopra said in response to a PTI query.
"I always feel in major Games, the main challenge is winning gold among the best athletes in the world. The second thing is distance. So I feel I need to keep increasing my distance."
Chopra said weather and other external factors can often dictate how far athletes are able to throw, making consistency an equally important quality at the highest level.
"But when the conditions are tough, we are not able to get the distance. In that case, we have to be consistent. So I feel I should maintain my consistency and see how I can also increase my distance," he said.
Having finally crossed the 90m mark, Chopra said he still wants to push his personal best further.
"I definitely want to improve my throw."
The men's javelin competition has become increasingly competitive in Asia, with Pakistan's Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lanka's Diamond League winner Rumesh Pathirage and Chopra regularly challenging one another on the international circuit. Chopra believes the growing competition is helping all the athletes improve.
"That's a good thing. When the competition is tough, we are able to push each other more. Especially in South Asia, there is a lot of strong competition now. Everyone will push themselves here," Chopra said.
'TOUGH FIELD IN CWG'
Chopra returns to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since winning gold on his debut at the 2018 Gold Coast Games. He missed the Birmingham 2022 edition because of injury and said he is looking forward to competing again at an event that played a significant role in his career.
"The field is quite tough. Olympic and World Championship, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games medallists are here. All of them perform in the Diamond League."
With rain and gusty winds forecast during the competition, Chopra said he has already started preparing for the conditions and believes mental strength will be crucial.
"I was doing some training throws yesterday. The conditions are tough, but they are the same for everyone," he said.
"No matter how bad the conditions are, we have to stay mentally strong. I always think about how to produce the absolute best throw in the worst conditions."
The 28-year-old also said he is satisfied with his fitness after recovering from injury and feels he is in a much better place physically.
"It is good now. I played my first competition in Doha after recovering, and it went well. I worked on my weaknesses and fitness, and I feel much better now."
Reflecting on his return to the Commonwealth Games after eight years, Chopra said the memories of his triumph in Australia remain special as it marked the beginning of his rise on the senior international stage.
"I have very good memories of the Commonwealth Games. It was my first senior competition at the Commonwealth Games, and I essentially started my senior career there when I won gold," he said.
"It's been eight years now, and finally I am back here."
"As I always say, when you represent your country, big Games are always special."
"I am happy that I am back on the field, I am feeling good, and I have been working on my game for a while now. The nature of the competition has changed a lot in the last eight years," he said.
Chopra will begin his Commonwealth Games campaign on July 30, when the men's javelin qualification event is scheduled.
