NEERAJ CHOPRA - THE ONE WHO CAN KEEP UP

Rarely have Indian athletes shown the grit and discipline to remain consistent at the world stage as javelin star Neeraj Chopra and that is his legacy

- Parth Singh

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown …” But not for India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra. Even as he wore the crown of Olympic glory, he knew many before him had walked this path but seldom had individual feat at the Games made way for greater glory. In fact, for most Indian athletes, an Olympic success has been the end of an ascent. Chopra’s first challenge, since his Tokyo triumph, was the Paavo Nurmi Games in 2022 where he was making his return to competitive action. He set a new personal best and national record of 89.30 m, which also earned him the second place in the tournament. Keeping up the momentum, Chopra once again broke his record with a 89.94 metre throw and secured the second place at the Stockholm Diamond League 2022.

In a country where all sporting stars other than cricketers have a very limited shelf life in public memory, Neeraj Chopra stands out. It is not his impish looks that are leaving a mark but his sheer consistency that has established Chopra as an all-weather javelin star dominating all conditions—Asian as well as European.

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