Over time, feeling invested in Neeraj Chopra’s success is even less stressful than locking away money in gold. This is a result of his nearly incredible consistency, which is uncommon among Indian sportsmen.

Although they don’t always define greatness, statistics do provide context. Chopra’s is incredible. Despite how great a single major performance may be, he consistently follows it up with another.

Think about this: Chopra’s historical gold-medal-winning throw at the Olympics in Tokyo just over two years ago, 87.58 metres, is not one of his top 10 throws.

His eight and ten greatest throws all occurred shortly after the Summer Olympic Games. The finest of these is 89.94m, while the shortest is 88.13m. Chopra has attempted to throw over 88 metres ten times in his career, in excess of 85 metres 26 times, and more than 82 metres in 37 throws.

According to these stats, consistency is his middle name, which is uncommon in Indian sports, which are rife with instances of famous athletes falling short of their international obligations. It has been almost five years since Chopra didn’t place among the top three in a tournament.

Following the summer games, he made eight of his ten throws. The furthest of these throws is 89.94 m, while the shortest is 89.13m. Chopra has thrown over 88 metres ten times in his career, in excess of 85 metres 26 times, and 82 metres 37 times.

Along with this star’s consistency, 9 is his middle name, which is uncommon in Indian sports, which is rife with instances of famous athletes falling short of their international obligations. It has been five years since Chopra didn’t place in the top three in the tournament.

Chopra is adept at finding the route to achievement regardless of the weather, including a minor annoyance. He began the year by winning the Doha Diamond League championship using the fifth-best throw of all time, 88.67m. Chopra achieved 87.66 metres in his return competition, the Lausanne Diamond League, despite not being at full strength. Chopra’s ‘easy throw’ at the Budapest World Championships qualifying round was recorded at 88.7 metres, which is his fourth-best throw overall.

Why is Chopra so talented? Technique consistency is one factor

His instructor Klaus Bartonietz had stated to this newspaper, “Other sportsmen are erratic in their technique, whereas Chopra is more constant because steadiness is a fantastic platform for a thrower.

Chopra’s agility makes him a very versatile thrower; therefore, pure power is not necessary. neither possessing a calling card, like Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan or Johannes Vetter of Germany. The Indian star has excellent flexibility, is a versatile athlete, and excels in lifting, jumping, and sprinting. The javelin champion may have even chosen the decathlon as a profession.

Chopra has encouraged an entire crop of Indian athletes who throw to dream big thanks to his golden arm. What was formerly thought to be impossible is now seen as possible.

An emerging group of Indian javelin throwers who can reach 80 metres or more includes 22-year-old Rohit Yadav. His 83.40-metre personal record stands. Since 2019, Rohit has been training overseas with Chopra, and he claims that the latter’s success is inspiring him and other up-and-coming throwers. Without treatment for an elbow injury that required surgery, Rohit would not have competed in the World Championships.

“When you practice next to someone who consistently makes massive throws, like Chopra, you start to think you can do it too. I have seen him attentively train and work diligently. Every major throw is a product of the way he trains and the knowledge he has acquired through competing internationally. His success in the major tournaments has motivated me. He is not an athlete whose level rises to a certain point and then declines. He has enhanced the general standard of Indian javelin throwing, according to Rohit.

Aiming higher

When Chopra broke the inter-university record in 2009, everyone was praising him as a gifted thrower, recalls Samarjeet Singh, the javelin coach at the national camp. “Back then, throwing 75 metres was a big deal. I used to look for footage of foreign throwers and marvel at how they managed to throw 82–85 metres and further. 80 metres was formerly considered a significant mental obstacle in India. We currently have a champion thrower, and he appears to be improving all the time,” Singh reflects.