Famous person javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday stated he’ll do every little thing below the solar to defend his Olympic title in Paris subsequent yr and his World Championships title in 2025.
The 25-year-old Chopra on Sunday turned solely the third javelin thrower in historical past to carry each the Olympic and World Championships crowns after successful the world’s title in Budapest.
Requested if he can emulate the legendary Czech Republic athlete Jan Zelezny, who received three Olympics and three World Championships titles, Chopra stated, “All the things is feasible if I stay motivated and focussed in my sport.”
“My endeavour could be to defend my title (Mera koshish hai ki mujhe mera title phirse dohraana hai) and no matter onerous work I must do to realize that, I’ll do.”
Earlier than Chopra, the enduring Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway had held the Olympics and World Championships titles concurrently. Zelezny, additionally Chopra’s idol, clinched the Olympics gold in 1992, 1996 and 2000 whereas successful World Championships title in 1993, 1995 and 2001.
Thorkildsen received gold within the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Championships. Chopra, nonetheless, admitted that it might be a giant problem to defend his Olympics gold in Paris.
“It was a giant problem to win the primary title (in Tokyo), and it will likely be a much bigger problem to do (defend) it once more as a result of everyone will come ready. Will probably be extra stress than Tokyo Olympics as a result of there will probably be much more expectations than earlier, even I’ve expectations,” he stated.
“However crucial factor is to save lots of myself from harm. I would like to stay wholesome and injury-free in order that I can repeat all my titles,” Chopra stated.
Chopra, who completed second within the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday, stated he was having cough and sore throat earlier than the World Championships.
“I didn’t need to say this earlier as a result of folks might imagine it was an excuse. However I used to be having cough and sore throat earlier than the qualification spherical. I used to be having issues. I’m nonetheless having downside in Zurich. I will probably be all proper, an athlete’s life is like that.”
