Neeraj Chopra opens up on strain in Paris Olympics remaining, claims he was relaxed in qualification

Entire India erupted in joy after Neeraj Chopra shone in the Paris Olympics qualification event with a throw of 89.34m. He qualified for the final in his very first attempt, moving closer to yet another medal at the Olympics. But despite the superlative effort, the 26-year-old was not content with his effort, stating that it was just the first step in the direction of a medal.

Speaking on JioCinema, Neeraj Chopra said, “It was a good throw, but this is just the qualification, the real deal is the final.” Clearing the air on his absence from most events in 2024, and whether he was carrying an injury, he went on to say, “I’ve had a few issues with my groin & that’s why I didn’t take part in a lot of competitions. It’s important to stay fit and reach the final.”

Neeraj Chopra at Paris Olympics

That’s not it. Neeraj claimed that there was a lot less pressure on him coming into the Paris Olympics. “Final will be a cracker, the Tokyo final mark has already been surpassed by qualification. We were a little relaxed today. The burden and pressure will be much more in the final.”

“In Tokyo, we threw in the sunshine and here it’s a bit cooler and the humidity is much lesser. Tokyo was much warmer and more humid than Paris. The big difference is that there are crowds here.”

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