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A prominent candidate for an Olympic gold in the Paris 2024 Games, Neeraj Chopra represents a great promise for India. Chopra had a great record, but the year 2024 found him dealing with major physical issues, which threw doubt on his readiness and called questions about his performance in the esteemed tournament.

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Neeraj Chopra's coach provides update on his niggle ahead of Paris Olympics 2024

The adductor niggle that has troubled Neeraj Chopra in the past couple of months "is fine" now and the reigning Olympic champion has entered the high intensity phase of his Paris preparations, his German coach Klaus Bartonietz told PTI, dismissing concerns surrounding the Indian star's fitness.

The 26-year-old Chopra, who scripted history by winning the javelin throw gold at the Tokyo Olympics, is once again the country's best bet for a top podium finish in the Paris Games beginning on July 26.

But his season has been far from perfect in terms of fitness. Bartonietz, however, insisted that things are back on track.

After winning the gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June 18 with a remarkable throw of 85.97m, Neeraj Chopra chose to skip the Paris Diamond League on July 7, clarifying that it was not included in his competition plans for the year. As the qualification round approaches on August 6, Chopra's coach, Bartonietz, outlined their training regimen, which involves morning sessions of sprinting, jumping, throwing, and weightlifting for activation, followed by two to two-and-a-half-hour long evening sessions.

Bartonietz said the approach is nearly the same as the one adopted before the Tokyo Olympics.

Chopra has maintained that he is focusing more on training than competitions this time. He is working on strengthening his blocking leg to mitigate pressure on his groin.

 Chopra competed in five events before Tokyo but in only three ahead of the Paris Games. His coach does not see anything wrong in cutting down competitions.

None of the top javelin throwers have performed exceptionally well this season and Bartonietz suggested that the competition could be wide open in the Olympics. As usual, he would not even predict Chopra's chances.

German teenager Mex Dehning is the only one to have thrown more than 90m this year, and Bartonietz said it all boils down to momentum.

Apart from Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch (silver medal winner in Tokyo Olympics), Julian Weber of Germany and two-time former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, Bartonietz also picked Oliver Helander of Finland as a medal contender.

The Olympic Stadium in Paris will have purple-coloured Mondo tracks, which experts believe give faster timings in races.

Asked if Neeraj will gain from the track on the runway, Bartonietz said, 

(With PTI inputs)

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