Neeraj worried about Olympics
Star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Saturday admitted that the uncertainty over the staging of the postponed Olympics due to Coronavirus creates anxiety but said he is proceeding with his preparations thinking that the Games will happen and he will give his 100 per cent.
There has been intense speculation over the staging of Tokyo Olympics in July-August with some reports suggesting that the Games may be scrapped while the organisers, the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee insisting they will be held on schedule.
“There is some anxiety for sure. If Olympics is happening, the target is clear, I have to give my 100 per cent in Olympics. But by chance if Olympics is not held, I may plan differently,” he said in an online interaction with reporters.
“There are sometimes this thought in mind that we are training so hard but Olympics may not happen,” said the 23-year-old reigning Asian Games and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who is currently training at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
“I am just hoping that things move forward positively and Tokyo Games are held,” he added.
New Delhi, Jan. 23:
There is some anxiety for sure. If Olympics are happening, the target is clear, I have to give my 100 per cent at the Games. But by chance if Olympics are not held, I may plan differently.
— NEERAJ
CHOPRA star javelin thrower
Neeraj will be competing in his first Olympics and he has already qualified for the Tokyo Games early last year before the Covid-19 pandemic began. He said he will be disappointed if the Tokyo Olympics is cancelled.
“I was late in qualifying for 2016 Rio Olympics but my performance while winning the junior world championships in 2016 or even 1m less than that would have given me a medal.
“If Tokyo Olympics is cancelled, it will be like I have lost two chances to win a medal in Olympics,” Neeraj said.
“If Olympics is happening, I will go for selective high intensity competitions against top javelin throwers who are going to take part in Olympics. It is important to have a consistent performance before Olympics,” he further added. —