Credit: Twitter
India’s Golden Boy and reigning World Champion, Neeraj Chopra, settled for the second podium finish in the Zurich leg of Diamond League 2023. Chopra, who is coming on the back of securing gold in the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, said that he was a bit tired from the World Championships. The reigning Olympic champion also said that though he was feeling physically good, he wanted to focus on his health first.
Chopra settled for the second spot with his final throw of 85.71 m in the men’s javelin throw event and finished behind Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic. After the event, the Indian athlete said, “I feel very good now because everyone's a little tired after the World Championships.”
The 25-year-old added, “We gave our 100 percent there, but for this competition here my focus was to just stay healthy, and we have to focus now for Eugene and then the Asian Games.” Chopra qualified for the final leg of the Diamond League in Eugene, with 23 points.
Before the event, the Haryana-born talked about having shoulder pain. He said, “For me, the focus was just to stay healthy and to give my 100 percent in my next competitions. Sometimes we need to read our body. Today, I feel OK, I am 100 percent OK, but I did not push too much. Sometimes, our number one goal is to stay healthy. Today, I gave it my best but still with the focus to stay healthy.”
Chopra will now aim to lift the trophy on September 17 in Eugene, USA.
