I just have 90m mark left now: Neeraj Chopra talks about next target and ‘pressure’ during the World Athletics Championships | Sport-others News

Neeraj Chopra who recently won the gold medal in javelin throw in the World Athletics Championships said on Wednesday that there was a lot of pressure on him to win the competition, adding that now just has one goal and that is to attain that evasive 90m mark.
“Because of my groin injury I did not compete too much this year and from May to the World Championships, I did 5-6 throwing sessions without even full run up,” he said on the sidelines of the Zurich Diamond League event, set to take place on Thursday.
“The World Championships was challenging for me but I was very prepared from my mind. I was thinking, ok I have a little bit of problem but I changed my technique with my right leg. The World Championships was hard. Not only on the body but also on the mind. Because in my country, there are so many people. Too much pressure. The World Championships was the only gold medal I didn’t have before. I just have the 90m mark now,” he added.

“There was so much pressure”@neeraj_chopra1 on representing India at the World Athletics Championships.#ZurichDL 🇨🇭#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/IbPZZMidYz
— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) August 30, 2023
Chopra also said that India will be bidding for the 2027 World Athletics Championships. Asked during a press conference on the eve of the Diamond League meet about India’s possibility of hosting the World Championships in 2027, Chopra said, “They (India) are bidding. I will request them (fans), and hopefully, they will come in great capacity).” “Now, javelin (throw) is famous in India. I have always said in Indian interviews that we need to understand athletics and be knowledgeable about it because athletics is not only javelin throw. There are so many events involved (in athletics). So, if they don’t come, I will push them (to come).
“The Indian people are so supportive, and they are now following athletics and taking interest in athletics. Three javelin throwers from India have finished in best six in Budapest (recently-concluded World Championships).”
On Thursday, Chopra will look to maintain his unbeaten streak in the prestigious Diamond League meet when he competes in a star-studded men’s javelin throw field.
Chopra on Sunday clinched his maiden World Championships title in Budapest with a throw of 88.17m. He had won a silver medal in the 2022 edition.

The Indian superstar also became only the third javelin thrower in hory to hold both the Olympic and World Championships titles after world record holder Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway.Most Read
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Zelezny clinched the Olympics gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000 while winning the World Championships title in 1993, 1995 and 2001. Thorkildsen won the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships.

The 25-year-old Chopra has been unbeaten this season, having won two Diamond League meetings in Doha (May 5) and Lausanne (June 30) before his World Championships triumph.
In Zurich, where he is competing four days after being crowned world champion, Chopra will be up against familiar rivals like Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, bronze winner in Budapest with 86.67m, Julian Weber of Germany and two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Only Pakan’s Arshad Nadeem, silver medall in Budapest, will not be there in Zurich.
(With Agency inputs)