“Won’t Be Surprised If Kishore Jena Breaches 90m Before Me”: Neeraj Chopra

New Delhi: Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is aiming to breach the elusive 90-meter mark in javelin throw before the Paris Olympics 2024. Chopra, whose personal best stands at 89.94m, believes consistent training and a focus on technique will see him achieve the feat soon.

While eyeing a sub-90m throw, Chopra acknowledged the rising talent of Odisha’s Kishore Jena. Jena, who bagged a silver medal at the Asian Games 2023 with a throw of 87.54m, impressed Chopra. The star athlete believes Jena has the potential to surpass the 90m mark even before him.

Chopra highlighted his improved fitness and strength gained during the off-season as reasons for his optimism. He also credited his success at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and subsequent events for boosting his confidence.

Looking ahead to the competitive season, Chopra is gearing up for the Doha Diamond League Meeting on May 10 and the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland, on June 18. He anticipates tough competition, particularly from emerging talents like Max Dahlin of Germany, who recently joined the 90m club with a throw of 90.20m.

Chopra remains unfazed by the challenges, including the varying weather conditions expected in Paris, expressing readiness to adapt and perform at his best regardless of the circumstances.