India, Jan. 5 -- Neeraj Chopra is recognized as one of the premier javelin throwers globally. From a young age, the Indian athlete was anticipated to excel, and he has indeed realized that promise. However, a lingering question regarding his career remains: will he ever surpass the 90m threshold in official competitions?

Neeraj achieved national acclaim by securing a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, in addition to earning both gold and silver medals at the World Championships. As he approached the Paris Olympics 2024, expectations were high for him to successfully defend his title. During the qualification round in Paris, he recorded a season-best throw of 89.34m on his first attempt, securing a direct entry into the finals. In the final event, he managed a throw of 89.45m in his second attempt, which was his only valid throw, earning him a silver medal as his main competitor from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, claimed gold with a record throw of 92.97m.

In an interview with Lallantop, the 27-year-old was questioned about whether his success in Tokyo created additional pressure for the Paris 2024 competition. He responded, "I typically do not impose pressure on myself to win gold. When I compete, I approach it as if I am a new athlete. I do not dwell on my previous Olympic performance or my past throws. My focus is primarily on what I will accomplish today. It is essential to be in good physical and mental condition to achieve a significant throw."

Neeraj further disclosed that injury challenges hindered his ability to defend his title in Paris, resulting in his defeat to Nadeem in the final. "I have been dealing with a groin injury for some time, which has limited my training capabilities. Since 2018, I have felt that I am capable of achieving a substantial throw, and I am aware of that potential. The pain I endured has significantly impacted my career progression. In terms of consistency, I have regularly thrown 88m and 89m. I believe I should have achieved a greater throw by now, but injuries can impede your advancement."

"To remedy it, I will need to do surgery. I have not taken that decision yet because the groin is very tricky. It is risky, it would be hard to make a comeback. Now I am trying to strengthen it," he added.

Ahead of the new season, fans will be hoping to see Neeraj cross the elusive 90m mark, a feat which will place him among the all-time greats in the sport.

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