Neeraj Chopra Faces Rising Competition from Asian Rivals
Neeraj Chopra faces new Asian rivals; Sumariwalla urges caution
Asianet Newsable
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Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin star, faces strong competition from Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla advises against pressuring Chopra, emphasizing the importance of his health and enjoyment in the sport as he prepares for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
- 01Rumesh Pathirage achieved a throw of 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League, just 35cm short of Arshad Nadeem's Asian record.
- 02Neeraj Chopra's best throw of 90.23m has been surpassed by both Pathirage and Nadeem, indicating increased competition.
- 03Adille Sumariwalla urges that Neeraj should enjoy the sport without added pressure, focusing on his health and performance.
- 04Neeraj recently parted ways with coach Jan Zelezny after a year of mixed results and aims to recover from a back injury.
- 05Chopra previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics under former coach Dr. Klaus Bartonietz.
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Neeraj Chopra, a prominent figure in javelin throw, is now facing increased competition from emerging talents like Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Pathirage's impressive throw of 92.62m at the Rome Diamond League has positioned him as a serious contender, coming close to Nadeem's Asian record. World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla has emphasized the need to avoid putting pressure on Chopra, advocating for him to enjoy his sport and maintain his health as he prepares for the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. After a challenging season marked by an eighth-place finish at the Tokyo World Championships due to a back injury, Chopra has also recently ended his coaching relationship with Jan Zelezny, who helped him achieve his first 90m throw. As he embarks on a new season, Chopra's legacy is now challenged by these rising stars.
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The rising competition in javelin throw could influence Neeraj Chopra's performance and strategy as he prepares for future competitions, including the Olympics.
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