Neeraj Chopra to begin off-season training in South Africa ahead of next year's competitions
India’s star javelin thrower and double Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra is gearing up for an intense off-season training program in Potchefstroom, South Africa, later this month. Known for his consistent performances on the international stage, Chopra has opted for a 31-day training stint to kickstart his preparations for the upcoming competitive season.
This trip marks another phase in his journey as he aims to refine his technique and improve his personal best while setting ambitious targets for 2025, including his goal of surpassing the 90-meter mark.
Neeraj Chopra, who recently competed at the Diamond League Final in Brussels in September, has received backing from India’s Sports Ministry to fund his off-season training session. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) will cover all expenses, including lodging, boarding, and the costs associated with his physiotherapist during their stay in South Africa.
"(He) will start his training early and will be in Potchefstroom for a period of 31 days," the ministry said in a statement, as reported by PTI.
"Neeraj's training session will be funded by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) and the expenditure will cover his and his Physiotherapist's lodging, boarding and training cost for the period of his stay in South Africa," the statement further read.
The 26-year-old will train in Potchefstroom, a location he has visited several times in the past, including ahead of the Tokyo and Paris Olympics. His time there has proven beneficial, as the city offers world-class facilities suited for javelin throwers. Chopra also competed in a meet in Potchefstroom in January 2020, where he impressed with a throw of 87.86 meters.
Neeraj Chopra has been managing an adductor muscle injury that affected his performance this year, including during the Paris Olympics and the Diamond League Final. Additionally, he competed with a fractured left hand in Brussels, highlighting his resilience but also the need for a full recovery ahead of the next season.
Neeraj Chopra to have new coach ahead of new season
In preparation for next season, Neeraj Chopra will also have a new coach. Indian athletics chief coach Radha Krishnan Nair hinted that the appointment of a new coach is expected before the year’s end (as per PTI).
His main objective in 2025 will be to defend his World Championships gold in Tokyo, in addition to targeting the elusive 90-meter milestone. Chopra's current personal best is 89.94 meters, just shy of the 90-meter mark. In the 2023 World Championships held in Budapest, Hungary, he secured the gold with a throw of 88.17 meters.
Chopra’s remarkable performance at the Paris Olympics earned him a silver medal with a throw of 89.45 meters, coming second to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who set a Games record at 92.97 meters.