”Such competition is healthy” - Neeraj Chopra opens up on his equation with Paris Olympics 2024 competitor Jakub Vadlejch
Neeraj Chopra, India's golden boy in the javelin throw, has opened up about his competition at the big stage. In a recent interview, Chopra expressed his honest feelings about his rivalry with Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch.
Neeraj Chopra came second in the recently held Diamond League in Doha, finishing two cm behind Jakub. The duo have shared the podium for many years, and Jakub has been part of the sport since 2016. Their rivalry began in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, where Chopra won the gold medal, and Jakub won the silver medal.
"When I finished 2 cm behind in Doha, he told me this was revenge for the last time! (Tokyo Olympics). The last time we competed together at the Diamond League in Doha, I won the competition with a throw of 88.67 and he had 88.63m. The margin was very fine. I’ve beaten him at the last Olympics and the World Championships as well. So that’s why he said that. Such competition is healthy," Neeraj said in an interview with Sportstar.
Chopra added:
"At regular competitions, we will chat and congratulate each other for good throws. But at the Olympics, we don’t really talk in the middle. It’s very different."
Neeraj Chopra is well aware of the reality in India
After winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Neeraj Chopra became an overnight sensation in Indian sports. He also became an inspiration for young athletes who dream of bringing gold to the country. However, he knows the reality of Indian sports very well, where cricket always takes priority.
"I never tried to compare myself with the likes of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni because I’m very well aware of the reality of what I am in India," Neeraj added.
He also said that his face has become more recognizable by the common public in the country but there is a huge difference in the popularity as compared to the cricketers.
Neeraj said that cricket is played in every corner of the country, but when it comes to the Javelin throw, it requires specific aesthetics to play the sport. In the Summer Olympics 2024, Neeraj will be defending his gold medal, which he won in Tokyo.