Neeraj Chopra’s attention to detail is like a Formula One driver’s: Coach Dr Klaus Bartonietz

“I need more improvement for Worlds. I am satisfied with my throws so far, maybe not very happy but satisfied given the conditions, my injury and mindset,” Chopra had said.

Very happy to make my return with a 87.66m throw and first place finish at #LausanneDL. Thanks for your prayers and support. Jai hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Gy7EPknOJq

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) July 1, 2023

Bartonietz says the Lausanne Diamond League gave Chopra a feel of what to expect at the World Championships.

“Lausanne was like a mini world championship. All the major opponents were in Lausanne. It was a tough test for Neeraj. But without full preparation he was able to fight. He was being careful and wasn’t too sure (initially) because he had missed competitions and missed high intensity training. Before (Laussane) we could not test in a competition with a full approach. We have to increase everything, including strength, speed and technique before the World Championship. So we have to work on everything for the next six weeks,” Bartonietz said on Wednesday.

The expectation was an 88 metre throw at Lausanne, ‘plus or minus two metres’ Bartonietz said. Chopra was tentative in the first four rounds before producing 87.66 metres.

“My mind was on the injury. It was a big question mark whether I can push myself 100 percent. In training before this, I had done two sessions and it was fine but during the competition, it was different. For the first three or four throws I was trying but there was this barrier in my mind somehow. Then I started feeling like I could push myself and I warmed up better by the fifth throw,” Chopra had said.

The abductor muscle strain came as a ‘shock’ , says Bartonietz, who joined the Indian set-up as the biomechanics expert before taking over as Chopra’s coach. It occurred during a training session during a ‘not so intense throw’. “He felt very good, was warmed up and was just leading to the big training throws towards the end of the session. It was a bit of a shock,” Bartonietz said.

But such is the nature of the sport, that even the fittest athlete can be prone to injury.

“You start running straight, then you change to a sideways position in the last five to seven steps where you have to pull, especially with the left leg. Then you come into a stretch position with the right leg. All this is not a natural thing. Also, sideways running is unnatural but you have to be prepared for it.”

Neeraj is back with a bang 💥

With a massive throw of 87.66m in his 5th attempt, @Neeraj_chopra1 dominates yet another Diamond League event finishing on 🔝position in Men’s Javelin Throw event at #LausanneDL 🔥🔥

Phenomenal effort by our #TOPScheme athlete to make a blockbuster… pic.twitter.com/QKQ6HkCcXz

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) June 30, 2023

From Saarbrücken, Chopra will shift his training base to Switzerland’s Magglingen before the World Championships in Budapest in August. Working on strength, speed and technique with Chopra is satisfying because he is not only a thinking athlete but also one who constantly wants to learn about the sport and listen to his body, Bartonietz said. The German coach compares Chopra’s attention to detail to that of a Formula One driver.

“Like a Formula One race driver who understands the power, engine speed and everything about the car, Neeraj understands the event and his body. He is not just doing what is necessary in training but also thinks about it, which is very good. Like how to make the exercises more efficient, understanding the event, understanding technique and his body. How to bring the best out of his body.”

Chopra’s consistency of finishing in the top-3 in competitions is down to his 100 percent effort training, his mental toughness and also his modesty, the coach said.

“He is a very hard worker. Also, you have to be mentally strong, otherwise you are not going to win at big events. He is not overconfident but is realistic. He never talks nonsense and never makes a big noise. He is a modest person from the countryside and knows where his weaknesses are and where his strengths are. You see, sometimes people boast on Instagram about the weight they are lifting. But he just smiles and says ‘javelin must travel far and not the bar’.”

Track & field athlete Neeraj Chopra during the Diamond League tournament, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Chopra won gold with a 87.66m throw. (PTI Photo)

The two don’t talk about the 90-metre question which Chopra has been asked umpteen number of times. Chopra’s personal best is 89.94 metres at last year’s Stockholm Diamond League.

“We don’t discuss 90 metres, it is just a number. See if you throw 89 metres, from the release position (if measured) it will be 90 metres. If you measure the world record of Jan Zelezny (98.48 metres) from the release position it would be almost 100 metres. It is just a number. There is a 90-metre club but it is just a statistic.”