New Delhi: India’s golden boy in athletics, Neeraj Chopra, is on the cusp of breaking one of the most elusive barriers in javelin throwing—the 90-meter mark. Despite his stellar performances and an Olympic gold under his belt, Chopra has yet to achieve this milestone. However, legendary para-athlete Devendra Jhajharia is confident that Neeraj will not only surpass this mark but also potentially reach an astounding 93 meters shortly.
The Road to 90 Meters
Neeraj Chopra has come tantalizingly close to the 90-meter mark on several occasions. His best throw to date stands at 89.94 meters, achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022. More recently, he secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics with a throw of 89.45 meters, narrowly missing the gold, which was claimed by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem with a record-breaking throw of 92.97 meters.
While these distances are impressive, the 90-meter mark has become a psychological barrier for Chopra. Yet, Devendra Jhajharia, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, believes it’s just a matter of time before Neeraj breaks through this barrier. Jhajharia, who has observed Chopra’s discipline and dedication firsthand, is confident that when Neeraj does cross the 90-meter mark, he’ll do so with a significant margin.
A Prediction of Greatness
Jhajharia, who has had an illustrious career himself, predicts that Neeraj will not only reach the 90-meter milestone but will exceed it by 3 to 4 meters. According to him, when athletes finally overcome such barriers, they often do so with a considerable leap, rather than just by a few centimeters.
He shared his insights, stating, “In the world of javelin, a distance of 89 meters has become a barrier for Neeraj. But in my 20-year sports career, I’ve seen that when a barrier breaks, it’s not just by a small margin. When Neeraj finally does it, his javelin will likely go 3-4 meters beyond 90.”
Jhajharia’s belief in Chopra’s potential is rooted in his deep understanding of the sport and his observations of Neeraj’s training regimen. The two athletes trained together in Finland in 2022, and Jhajharia was impressed by Chopra’s discipline and dedication, qualities that he believes will help Neeraj achieve his best performances in the coming years.
Age and Experience on Neeraj’s Side
At 26 years old, Neeraj Chopra is still in the prime of his athletic career. Jhajharia pointed out that Neeraj’s age is a significant advantage, suggesting that his peak performance years are still ahead of him. He expects Neeraj to reach his full potential by the time he is 28 or 29, predicting that these years will bring Chopra’s best performances yet.
Jhajharia, who was elected President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) earlier this year, also highlighted the mental aspect of javelin throwing. He believes that once Chopra breaks the 90-meter barrier, it will open the floodgates for even greater distances. With the Paris Olympics behind him and the World Championships ahead, Chopra is focused on achieving this milestone and further solidifying his place in the annals of Indian sports history.
As Neeraj Chopra continues to push the limits of his abilities, the Indian sporting community eagerly awaits the day when he crosses that elusive 90-meter mark—and perhaps even goes beyond, as predicted by the legendary Devendra Jhajharia.
