Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who won a silver medal at the Olympics, has revealed he might need surgery soon. He has been struggling with an inner thigh muscle injury and worked hard to compete despite this issue.
Neeraj won the silver medal with his best throw of 89.45 meters. He became the first Indian track and field athlete to win two Olympic medals, having previously won gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the gold with a throw of 92.97 meters, setting an Olympic record and becoming Pakistan’s first individual Olympic gold medalist.
Concerns Over Injury
Neeraj explained that his focus during throws was often on his injury, affecting his performance. He said, “When I was throwing, a lot of my attention was on the injury. I didn’t want to get hurt. You might have noticed that my speed was less.” He mentioned that the doctors had suggested surgery before the World Championships, but he didn’t have enough time before or after the event due to the extensive preparation needed for the Olympics.
Future Plans
Neeraj won gold at the World Championships but remains determined despite not being in his best shape. He is only the third Indian to win medals in two consecutive Olympics, joining the ranks of wrestlers Sushil Kumar and shuttler P.V. Sindhu. He acknowledged that maintaining a long career in sports requires staying fit and healthy.
He plans to discuss with his team about the next steps and the possibility of surgery. Neeraj shared how challenging the past seven years have been for him, starting with pain he first felt in 2017. He has undergone extensive treatment and needs to make a significant decision regarding his injury.
Commitment to Improvement
Neeraj believes he has the potential for even bigger throws. His best performance came in 2022 with a throw of 89.94 meters. He said, “I know I have more potential. I will keep trying until I achieve it. I am preparing my mind for the future and will work on improving my technique.”
He also mentioned the difficulties he faced due to his injury, which limited his practice and performance. Despite these challenges, he has continued to compete and strive for better results.