Neeraj Chopra, India’s star javelin thrower, is set to bid farewell to his long-time coach, Klaus Bartonietz, after a successful five-year partnership. The 75-year-old German coach has decided to step down due to his age and family commitments.
“He (Bartonietz) is 75 and he now wants to be with his family and does not want too much travel also,” an official from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) told PTI. “It is not that Neeraj wants to end the association, it is Bartonietz who has expressed his inability to continue as his (Neeraj’s) coach.”
Chopra, 26, has been working with Bartonietz, a biomechanics expert, since 2019. The German initially joined as a biomechanical expert but later took over as Chopra’s coach after Uwe Hohn’s fallout with the AFI and the Sports Authority of India.
Under Bartonietz’s guidance, Chopra has achieved remarkable success. He won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the silver medal at the Paris Games, and became the world champion and Diamond League champion. He also won the gold medal at the Asian Games.
Chopra’s partnership with Bartonietz has been a key factor in his rise to the top of the javelin throwing world. Bartonietz’s expertise in biomechanics has helped Chopra improve his technique and maximize his potential.
The AFI is now looking for a new coach for Chopra. The federation is expected to announce the new coach in the coming weeks.
