Neeraj Chopra Reveals 'Main Goal For The Season Is World Championships'

Last Updated:June 23, 2025, 16:24 IST

Chopra revealed that his main target for the year was to top the World Championships, and added that he seeks to build up in a steady manner towards the same.

Neeraj Chopra. (Picture Credit: AFP)

Ace Indian javelin throw athlete Neeraj Chopra, who clinched the top spot in the recently concluded Paris Diamond League 2025, will be in action in Ostrava, Czech Republic, at the Golden Spike Athletics meet on Tuesday.

Chopra, who got the 90m mark monkey off his back earlier in the year thanked his coach Jan Zelezny for his contributions and asserted that he would like to build up steady for his biggest goal of the year– to win the World Championships, slated to be held in Tokyo between the 13th and 21st of September.

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“I am really happy to work with such a great athlete and coach. I’ve already thrown 90m this year after a little bit more improvement in technique. So let’s see when it comes next time but I am ready,"

“Recently we’ve done a good training in Nymburk so I’ll do my best here in Ostrava," he said.

“Main goal for the season is obviously World Championships in Tokyo," the 27-year-old.

The double-Olympic medallist from Haryana expressed his delight in being able to compete at Ostrava following the footsteps of sporting greats such as Usain Bolt.

“When I was kid, I watched a lot of videos and photos of athletes as Usain Bolt competing here. I came last year but I didn’t compete because of injury," Chopra reflected.

“Now I feel good, but I don’t want to put any pressure on myself for 90m. But I’ll try really hard," he added.

He went on to further laud the expertise of coach Zelezny, who has helped Chopra improve with each passing event, by sharing an anecdote from the Doha Diamond Legaue, where the Indian came in second behind Julian Weber despite his first ever 90m plus throw.

“When I competed at Diamond League in Doha, there were a lot of Indian people who wanted to take pictures with Jan. And they are sometimes you know it gets very intense so I was bit worried about him. But he left to the hotel quickly," Chopra recollected.

“I am happy about the situation. It’s important for javelin and throws in general as athletics, is not only about sprints. Neeraj opened the doors to other countries, it’s great for our sport," he said.

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Chopra also expressed his anticipation ahead of the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, an invitational event slated to be held in Bengaluru on the 5th of July and headlined by the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist himself.

“This will be my first really serious competition in India with international athletes, on July 5. I still have to manage a lot of things before competition but it will be a good experience," he said.

“So now it would not be good if I would say no to people. And I’m happy that now in India people recognise other sports than cricket," he added.

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Czech Republic

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News sports Neeraj Chopra Reveals 'Main Goal For The Season Is World Championships'