Boria Majumdar
Neeraj Chopra is arguably India’s greatest ever athlete. Two Olympic medals, a gold and a silver, multiple World Championships medals, Diamond League triumphs, he has seen it all. And yet he hasn’t. As he takes centre stage in Tokyo, it will be yet another first for him.
How does he deal with the Arshad Nadeem challenge? While he knows what to expect from Julian Weber, who is in the form of his life, Neeraj wouldn’t know what to expect from Arshad. Will that put any additional pressure on him or will he go about his business unfazed? How will he react and how awkward can it be in the stadium? While they are in different groups in qualifying and may not encounter each other, they are expected to make the final and it will be interesting to see how Neeraj reacts to the whole situation.
Neeraj is a one and done athlete and I expect no different in Tokyo. A throw of 84.50 metres is what will ensure direct qualification and he will want to do it at the first go and just leave. It should remind him of what he had done exactly four years earlier at the Tokyo Olympics. A 86.5-metre, throw and the world had taken notice of Neeraj Chopra. Then he had scripted himself into history with the Olympic gold medal in the final. The city will have fond memories and at times such things help. It gives you a sense of comfort and makes a difference on how you feel on the day.
On form, Neeraj will not go in as the favourite. Weber, who has had the season of his life, is the outright favourite, with Neeraj, Arshad and others all stacked thereafter. But then, with Neeraj, it is always the big stage. He knows the drill and knows when to peak. He will have analysed what went wrong at the Diamond League final and will be ready for Tokyo. To have finished at the podium for 25 straight competitions is an unbelievable record and chances are it will continue yet again in Tokyo.
With all the pressure on him, Neeraj will need to be his own self and that’s what will do the trick for him. He is not alien to the big stage and will do his best to cocoon himself from all the outside noise. Also, he will not want to think of India versus Pakistan much. Arshad could have beaten him at the Olympics, but overall he has a great record against his opponent and that’s what Neeraj will seek confidence from.
At the Tokyo Olympics, as Neeraj was getting ready to throw, he had gone to his then coach Klaus Bartonietz and asked him for any final piece of advice. Klaus, who had been with Neeraj for a couple of years by then, said two very simple words, “Maje karo (enjoy)”. That’s what Neeraj will need to do. He is much too good to miss out if he is enjoying himself. And if he does, all of India will enjoy with him. Here’s wishing the very best. It is Neeraj Chopra time and all of India will be watching.
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