New Delhi, Nov 6: Neeraj Chopra on Wednesday bid an emotional farewell to his German coach Klaus Bartonietz who ended his five-year partnership with the star Indian javelin thrower, citing family commitments. The 75-year-old coach, who guided Chopra to a historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics, a silver at the Paris Games this year, and several other medals, had earlier expressed his inability to continue.
“I write this without knowing where to begin. Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition,” Chopra wrote in X in an emotional tribute.
“You stood by me through injury. You were there through the highs, and you were there even more through the lows.” Chopra also highlighted the coach’s quiet yet impactful presence, noting that while the laughter and pranks will be missed.
“Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours,” he added. (PTI)
