Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is set to kick off his season at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Doha on Friday, facing a formidable field that includes former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Olympic and world-medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.
Chopra, who is also the reigning world and Asian Games champion, will be aiming to set the tone for his Paris Games preparations in Doha. The 26-year-old Indian javelin superstar has a personal best of 89.94m, which is also the national record.
Joining Chopra in the fray will be his compatriot Kishore Jena, who will be making his Diamond League debut. Jena has a personal best of 87.54m.
The 10-man field also includes European champion Julian Weber of Germany, who finished fourth in the Olympic Games and World Championships.
Chopra is the defending champion in Doha, having won the event in 2022 ahead of Vadlejch and Peters. He has also won three individual legs of the Diamond League and lifted the champion’s trophy in 2022.
After Doha, Chopra will compete at home for the first time in three years at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar from May 12 to 15. He will then compete in the prestigious Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18.
Chopra’s goal for this season is to defend his Olympic title and to break the elusive 90m barrier. He has been training overseas at different international centers in Finland, South Africa, UK, and Turkey to prepare for the upcoming season.
The Indian government has spent close to Rs four crore to assist Chopra’s training, equipment, coach’s salary, and out-of-pocket allowances in the current Paris Olympics cycle.
Chopra attributes his preparedness to the training he has undergone overseas and the support he has received from the government. He has also emphasized the importance of staying injury-free and adjusting to a proper diet.
