Vijaynagar (Karnataka), July 3: Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is in best physical condition to claim a medal at the Paris Games, said Spencer Mackay, the head of strength and conditioning at Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS).
The 26-year-old Indian, who had undergone rehabilitation at IIS for an elbow injury before winning the Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, has been troubled by an adductor niggle for the past couple of months.
Chopra is not participating in Sunday’s Paris Diamond League and will straight away compete at the Olympics.
Mackay said he is “keeping a close track of him.” “He is in excellent physical condition and well-prepared,” Mackay said in an interview with PTI videos.
“His past injuries and recent niggles are now an afterthought. When the Olympic finals begin, Neeraj will be in a fantastic position to win another medal for the country.” The Olympic and World champion Chopra had returned to competitions in June after a month-long break to fetch his maiden gold medal at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland. He had finished second at the Doha Diamond League in May.
Chopra also participated at the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where he secured the gold medal.
“For an athlete, it is not warranted to perform at the best all the time, especially for athletes like Neeraj who compete at the highest level. But his plan is very clear: to keep himself fit, strong, and well-balanced to give his best shot at the Olympics.” The Inspire Institute of Sports (IIS) here has been a go-to place for various Indian athletes over the years for injury recovery and rehabilitation. (PTI)
