After battling injuries for close to a year, Neeraj Chopra reflects on his tough road back to competitive javelin, culminating in a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra has opened up about the fitness struggles that plagued him for nearly a year, revealing that the last 10 months tested him in ways he never expected. The two-time Olympic medallist, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last week, was primarily hampered by an adductor muscle injury along with several other niggles.
Chopra's season start was delayed due to these issues, but he found his rhythm at the CWG, recording a season's best throw of 85.83m in Glasgow.
"There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey. The past 10 months has tested me in ways I never expected," Chopra wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, sharing a short clip of his CWG performance.
"Recovering from multiple injuries, rebuilding my body, finding my rhythm again, and learning to be patient when all I wanted was to compete. I was training every day without knowing if I will even have a season to compete this year," he revealed.
Chopra, who claimed gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with a throw of 86.47m, had missed the 2022 edition due to injury. He sustained a lower back injury just before the World Championships last September and had competed in only one event before this year's CWG.
At the Glasgow Games, Chopra was beaten by current world leader Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka, who threw 89.75m amid difficult windy conditions. The former world champion expressed deep gratitude towards his support staff for helping him make his comeback.
"To be back competing at this level feels good. None of this would have been possible on my own. I'm deeply grateful for the people who never stopped believing in me. My physio, Ishaan (Marwaha) ji who has been by my side every step of the recovery, helping me get back to doing what I love," Chopra said.
"My coach, Jai (Chaudhary), who has been with me since the very first time I picked up a javelin. My family, that always stand strong with me no matter what the circumstances are. The season continues, one step at a time," he added.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.