Diamond League Final: 'Technically not perfect' - Neeraj Chopra on breaching 90m mark

Neeraj Chopra admitted on Wednesday that even his landmark 90.23m throw earlier this year was not technically flawless, as the Indian javelin star continues to search for the “perfect” release. Chopra breached the long-awaited 90m barrier in Doha on May 16 while finishing second, but said he still finds gaps in his execution. “I feel I am really fast in run-up, but I don't think I am using the speed (to send javelin farther) right now. In Doha, the 90m throw was really good, but technically I don't want to say that was perfect,” Chopra told reporters in Zurich ahead of the Diamond League Finals. Explaining further, the two-time Olympic medallist said, “If my left leg is straight and if I use perfect block, that will be really good throw and then I will be satisfied with my speed.” Chopra, who won the Diamond League title in 2022 but finished runner-up in the last two editions, is bidding to reclaim the crown. His rivals in Zurich include defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Germany’s Julian Weber, along with Julius Yego, Keshorn Walcott, Andrian Mardare and Switzerland’s Simon Wieland. The 27-year-old credited his coach Jan Zelezny, the world record holder, for shaping his technical progress. “I learned from him (Zelezny) how to stay calm under pressure and still be consistent. He threw 90m-plus more than 50 times. He was really in another level,” Chopra said, as quoted by PTI. “He always said, I read somewhere, the technique is my (Zelezny’s) biggest weapon. Technically, I'm not at his level. So I'm trying to improve my technique. But more than an athlete or coach, he is a really good man and he's always helping me.” Chopra also reflected on conditions and external factors, including wind and weather. “It depends on the thrower who knows how to use the wind. If there is tail wind, it's good. If you throw really in good line, little bit up the point, it really helps,” he said. “It may not be good weather tomorrow, may be raining. But it's for everyone and we need to stay tough mentally.” The NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, which Chopra hosted and won, reaffirmed the sport’s growing popularity in India. “I was really happy when we did that event in India and 15,000 people were there only for the javelin event. Lots of kids are throwing now, so it's good,” he said.