NEW DELHI: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra on Monday openly acknowledged his dilemma about pushing himself to the limit in Lausanne due to his recent injury and the fact that he hadn't yet reached his desired level of fitness.
Despite his injury concerns, the talented javelin thrower secured his second consecutive Diamond League title on June 30 with a throw of 87.66m. Although it wasn't one of his best performances in recent times, he managed to clinch the victory.
Chopra revealed that his next competition will be in Budapest, which means he might opt to skip a couple of international events before that. His decision to participate in the Hungarian capital is primarily in preparation for the upcoming World Athletics Championships scheduled from August 19 to 27. The javelin throw competition is set to kick off with the qualification round on August 25.
"Overall, my fitness level was a bit low (in Lausanne). Because of the injury, there was a question mark on my mind also whether I am 100 per cent fit or not, whether I have to push myself or not," Chopra said during a virtual media interaction.
1/10:Neeraj Chopra wins second straight Diamond League title in Lausanne
<p>Read more on TOI Sports<br /></p>Getty Images
2/10:GOLDEN BOY
<p>Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra clinched the prestigious Diamond League title for the second consecutive time by throwing his spear to 87.66m on Friday<br /></p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
3/10:NEXT AIM?
<p>But the coveted 90m mark eluded the star Indian javelin thrower yet again.<br /></p>AFP
4/10:UNIMPRESSIVE START
<p>Chopra began with a foul and then had 83.52m and 85.04m throws.<br /></p>AFP
5/10:TITLE-WINNING THROW
<p>He had another foul in the fourth round before coming up with his title-winning throw of 87.66m next. <br /></p>AFP
6/10:LAST THROW
<p>Chopra's sixth and last throw was 84.15m.<br /></p>AFP
7/10:CHAMPION SPEARMAN
<p>Chopra had won the season-opening Diamond League in Doha on May 5 with his fourth career-best throw of 88.67m.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:GREAT COMEBACK
<p>The 25-year-old Chopra had skipped three top events due to a muscle strain he sustained last month<br /></p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM
9/10:OLYMPIC CHAMPION
<p>Chopra, who usually produces his best in early rounds, had to wait till his fifth attempt to lead the field. He was at the second spot till the end of the fourth round.<br /></p>AFP
10/10:WINNERS
<p>Germany's Julian Weber was second with a best throw of 87.03m, while Tokyo Olympics silver medallist and season-leader Jakub Vadlejch (SB: 89.51m) of the Czech Republic was third with an 86.13m effort.<br /></p>TIMESOFINDIA.COM"I need to improve my fitness, work on it (fitness) through training so that I can give my best at the World Championships and fulfil the dream of winning gold there."
The 25-year-Chopra, who had also won the season-opening Diamond League in Doha on May 5, had sustained a muscle strain while training, which he had announced on May 29.
He said saving himself from injury will be his main goal this season as three major competitions -- World Championships in August, Diamond League Finals in September and Asian Games in October -- are lined up.
"I have to go with 100 per cent fitness in these events. If I am not physically fit, I will also be not mentally ready. Not only the physical aspect, the mental aspect is also important," he said.
"There is a lot of time now to work on my fitness and be ready for the World Championships and other major events."
Chopra has already got 16 Diamond League points after winning two legs, which should suffice to earn a place in the grand finale in Eugene, USA, on September 16-17.
There are still two Diamond League events which have javelin throw on the roster before the grand finale -- in Monaco on July 21 and in Zurich August 31.
Chopra, however, said that he has not finally decided that he will skip the Monaco leg.
"There is still time before Monaco. We will see for up to seven days and decide on whether to compete there or not. If I feel that I am good and up for it, I will go there and compete."
Chopra is the reigning Diamond League champion, having won the trophy in the 2022 grand finale in Zurich in September last.
(With inputs from PTI)
