NEW DELHI: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has recently spoken about the adductor niggle that has been impacting his performance this season. He plans to seek advice from various medical professionals after the upcoming Paris Olympics to find a solution for this persistent problem.
Despite the injury, Chopra made a successful comeback at the Paavo Nurmi Games on Tuesday, securing his first gold medal at the event with a throw of 85.97m in his third attempt.
This achievement came after a month-long hiatus from competitions.
The 26-year-old athlete, who made history by becoming the first Indian to secure a track and field medal at the Tokyo Olympics, had previously withdrawn from the Ostrava Golden Spike last month as a precautionary measure after feeling discomfort in his adductor muscles, which are located on the inner thighs.
"The weather was good today, a little bit cold with the wind. But I am happy with my adductor now because I could do all 6 throws," Chopra said after the win.
"Every year I have some problems with my adductor, maybe after the
Olympics I am going to talk to different doctors."
Chopra, nevertheless, conveyed his aspiration to participate in additional tournaments throughout the current season.
His season commenced at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he secured the second position with his concluding throw of 88.36m, marking the ninth finest performance of his professional journey.
Subsequently, he took part in the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships held in Bhubaneswar, where he clinched the gold medal despite a somewhat disappointing throw of 82.27m.
"Initially I wanted to compete more this season, but it was not possible due to my niggles," he added.
After the Paavo Nurmi Games, Chopra will next be seen in action at the Paris Diamond League on July 7.
Neeraj Chopra, the Olympic gold medalist, has embarked on a training journey across Europe as part of his preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Accompanied by his coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha, the 26-year-old athlete has carefully selected three distinct venues to hone his skills and optimize his performance.
Chopra's European training commenced in Kuortane, Finland, where he focused on laying the groundwork for his rigorous regimen. Following his stint in Finland, the javelin thrower will transition to Saarbrucken, Germany, to continue his intensive training program.
The final leg of Chopra's pre-Olympic preparation will take place at the Gloria Sports Arena in Turkiye. He is scheduled to remain at this state-of-the-art facility until July 28, fine-tuning his techniques and ensuring he is in peak condition before the global sporting event in Paris.
"I came from Kuortane and will now head to Saarbrücken, Germany and maybe to Turkey just before the Olympics.
"Most of the time I train alone with my coach and physio, but from time to time we exchange with other coaches, like Jan Zelezny.
"I will try to stay healthy in the next weeks, because then I will throw my best throws," he added.