Neeraj to focus on fitness in preparation for Worlds

The Olympic champ wants to become the first Indian athlete to win the world c'ships

- Avishek Roy

If there is one title that Neeraj Chopra wants to go all out to bag this year, it is the world championships. No Indian athlete has ever won a world title, and Chopra has taken it upon himself to end the long dry spell, just as he did under the Tokyo skyline when he become the first Olympic champion in athletics from the country.

Last year he entered the Eugene Worlds in a similar frame of mind but the body gave up at a crucial moment. Falling behind the field after his initial throws, Chopra roared back into contention in his fourth attempt with a throw of 88.13m. World champion Anderson Peters still had the lead after two massive 90-plus throws, and to beat him Chopra had to go where he has never reached - the 90m mark and beyond. But the body could not withstand that pressure and he pulled his groin, eventually ending up with a silver medal.