Doha, Qatar – Reigning males’s javelin world champion and Olympic silver medallist Neeraj Chopra is about to get his 2025 athletics season below manner at World Athletics’ Doha Diamond League occasion in Qatar on Friday.
The 2-time Olympic medal-winning Indian athlete – gold at Tokyo 2021 and silver at Paris 2024 – walks into the brand new season following a nerve-racking few weeks at residence.
From going through social media backlash for inviting Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem to the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Basic javelin occasion, to publicly pledging his assist for the Indian armed forces amidst their close to full-fledged conflict towards Pakistan and coping with the load of expectations on the sector – Chopra says he’s comfortable to get again on the sector.
On this temporary chat with Al Jazeera, the 27-year-old star spills his ideas on the psychological strain of being a high-profile athlete in India, the boon and bane of social media, and the upcoming athletics season.
Al Jazeera: How do you take care of the psychological strain of being a high-profile athlete and celeb in a sport-mad nation like India?
Neeraj Chopra: The flexibility to win medals for my nation is a matter of nice pleasure for me and, to some extent, it takes care of a few of the strain.
So long as I concentrate on my duties and challenges on the sector, I’m able to overcome the psychological challenges.
I principally practice exterior India, typically in South Africa throughout low season and in Europe throughout the competitors season. Once I return to India I’ve to reside as much as my public picture and act in a sure manner, particularly for sponsorship offers, and I don’t take pleasure in it very a lot.
Initially, after my success on the Tokyo Video games, it was tough however with time and the assistance of a few of the skilled athletes, I’ve discovered to take care of it.
Al Jazeera: Is social media to be blamed for a few of this strain?
Chopra: Social media has given everybody with a cellphone and an web connection the platform and freedom to say no matter they like and assault whomever they need.
Some individuals take to social media to vent their pent-up frustrations. If they’re going through any points of their private lives that may’t be aired, they take purpose at individuals on social media.
Nonetheless, I strive to not fear about such feedback and concentrate on my work.
Al Jazeera: Have there been cases the place you’ve felt the necessity to give up social media and, if it comes right down to it, would you be capable of go off it?
Chopra: After all. I can give up social media in a heartbeat if I wish to. I by no means really feel obligated to keep up a presence.
I’m there to share my journey, promote the game and create a pathway for different athletes from my nation.
I wish to present what goes behind changing into a global athlete.
I’m not an influencer, I’m an athlete. Javelin is my profession, not social media. I can give up social media very simply.
Al Jazeera: You and Arshad Nadeem have flipped the script on a principally European-centric sport by successful back-to-back Olympic medals in javelin, however will this success translate into the expansion of monitor and area sports activities within the South Asian area?
Chopra: Actually, up till a couple of years in the past I didn’t I see an important future for athletics in India and couldn’t discover a strategy to take it to the lots.
Now, nonetheless, I’m starting to see a change. As an example, for the primary time, 4 Indian athletes are a part of the Doha Diamond League meet this 12 months and that’s an important signal. I’m ecstatic. It means individuals are sitting up and taking discover.
Javelin has slowly develop into a world occasion and isn’t restricted to European athletes any extra.
My competitors, the Neeraj Chopra Basic, is a step in the identical path. I wish to use it as a platform to showcase the game to Indian lots and assist it develop.
Al Jazeera: The Doha Diamond League is the place your season is about to get below manner. You could have an Olympic silver medal below your belt, however your World Athletics Championship title shall be on the road this 12 months. How do you’re feeling about 2025?
Chopra: I’m prepared and excited to get issues going. I’ve a brand new coach, former Olympic gold medallist Jan Zelezny, who has helped me make minor modifications to my routine.
It took a while to regulate to the modifications however I really feel nice. I’ve been troubled by some groin points however it’s all prior to now now.
I can’t wait to start out the brand new season.
Al Jazeera: Your followers have been prepared you on to interrupt the 90-metre barrier for a while now. Does that strain get to you and do you assume this would be the 12 months to surpass 90m?
Chopra: I really feel reinvigorated and am in nice form bodily.
Along with the bodily facet, Zelezny has additionally handed on suggestions that assist me take care of the psychological a part of being an athlete. It helps retains the strain at bay.
I’ve been coaching and performing persistently, which varieties the idea of attaining the very best outcomes on the sector. Nobody can predict what is going to occur on the day of the competitors however I’m all the time seeking to transcend my earlier finest.
A number of javelin athletes have thrown their private finest in Doha and I purpose to do the identical on Friday.
