Neeraj Chopra — Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has finally resumed training in Chula Vista, USA after an extended off-season which included numerous felicitations in different parts of the country and media commitments. And in that off-season, Neeraj Chopra gained a lot of weight which he is in the process of shedding. Follow live updates on InsideSport.IN
Neeraj Chopra: Had gained 12 kgs post Tokyo Olympics, thinking of taking booster shot
Also read: Neeraj Chopra: Olympic gold medallist begins off-season training in US, check details
During a virtual interaction with select media, Neeraj Chopra spoke about the difficulties he faced after restarting training, COVID-19 concerns as well as his plans for 2022, a year of multiple big-ticket events.
Excerpts…
Q. How difficult was initial training after such a lengthy time away from the sport?
A.I had to sacrifice a lot in terms of diet to perform in the Olympics. After returning from Tokyo with gold, I ate everything (laughs). From sweets to my favourite Indian food items, I did not let go of the chance to savour my favourite snacks. When I came to US for training, I found out that I had gained 12 kgs! Initially, burning that extra fat was difficult. But after around three weeks, I have managed to shed 5 kgs which is my usual off-season weight.
Q. How special was 2021 for you and what were your biggest takeaways?
A. 2021 was very special for me. Winning gold in Olympics was like a dream come true. For Indian sports as well, it was a good year overall with so many medals in Olympics as well as record haul in Paralympics. The only dampener was COVID-19.
Neeraj Chopra: Had gained 12 kgs post Tokyo Olympics, thinking of taking booster shot
The biggest takeaway for me, even more than winning gold was kids taking up the sport of javelin. I have seen that the love for athletics has been rekindled which gives me great happiness as well as hope for the future.
Q. Are you worried about COVID-19 impacting travel and competitions once again?
A. Here in Chula Vista, the COVID-19 scenario is better as of now. In India, cases are increasing again. The main worry will be when competitions start with regards to different quarantine rules, flight restrictions. But I’m not thinking about those at the moment and trying to focus only on my training.
Q. What prompted you to train in US instead of in India?
A. Training in India at the moment would have been hard due to the cold weather. Also this is wedding season in India (laughs). Someone or the other in my family would get married and distractions would have been there. Here I can focus fully on training and the weather is perfect here. Training, proper diet and adequate rest is the daily routine as of now.
Q. Is breaching the 90m mark the goal now? Are you planning to change your technique in order to do so?
A. The plan to breach 90m remains the same. The aim is to keep improving gradually and it is important to peak at the right time. It is important to note that winning a medal and throwing 90m are two separate things. Breaching the 90m mark will mean I’m part of select group of athletes which will give me great pride. But I don’t want to set targets like breaching the mark at a certain event. I’m fully focussed on giving my 100 per cent.
Neeraj Chopra: Had gained 12 kgs post Tokyo Olympics, thinking of taking booster shot
As far as technique is concerned, that does not change but certain improvements can be made. I’m consulting with my coach and working on small aspects like my leg bend at the time of throw, improving my explosive strength and looking at making improvements in speed during run-up.
Q. At one point after the Olympics, were you tired off the constant felicitations and functions?
A. I had a great reception and I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart. Sometimes staying away from training and competitions can get tiring but i realise the love people have for me is very important. I tried to reciprocate that. My family and my team have supported me a lot.
Neeraj Chopra: Had gained 12 kgs post Tokyo Olympics, thinking of taking booster shot
My family upbringing has taught me to treat people with respect. You get positive vibes from the love that people have shown and it is only right to try and respect that.
Q. Your plans for the coming year and have you given any thought to booster shot?
A. 2022 is another big year with the World Championship, Diamond League, Commonwealth games and Asian games. So there is no time to let up. I have only just started training so will discuss the calendar with my coach and take a call with regards to tournaments.
I have thought about taking booster shot and yes I do plan to take it when my time comes. I have heard that there should be a time gap between the second dose and booster dose. So will heed medical advice before taking any step. Rules are different from country to country with regards to this as well. As of now, the focus is on training and COVID-19 is not in our control so there is no point in worrying too much. Remaining safe till then is the aim.
Neeraj Chopra: Had gained 12 kgs post Tokyo Olympics, thinking of taking booster shot
