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For a nation of 1.4 billion folks and counting, India’s file on the Olympics is surprisingly lacklustre. Greater than 100 years since first fielding a crew on the quadrennial spectacular, Indian athletes have come again from the Video games with gold simply ten occasions, with an total tally of 35 medals placing the nation behind Estonia (inhabitants: 1.35 million) on the all-time desk.
Whereas similarly-sized China has poured cash and assets into changing into an Olympic superpower, it’s Asian neighbour has lagged behind, the occasion by no means fairly carrying cultural or financial weight. Whereas India’s male hockey gamers dominated for many years, it took till 2008 for a person Olympic champion to be unearthed, and Abhinav Bindra has been joined by solely a single successor on the highest step of the rostrum since.
However that man may very well be about to allure a nation as he defends his title at Paris 2024. Neeraj Chopra was one of many breakthrough stars of Tokyo 2020, hurling himself into historical past with javelin gold.
It was an Olympic title that got here not as a complete shock however nonetheless unexpectedly. Chopra had emerged a number of years earlier than Tokyo as a shiny younger star of area athletics, successful Commonwealth Video games gold in 2018 earlier than smashing the nationwide file on the Asian Video games.
However there would quickly be a setback. Bone spurs in Chopra’s throwing proper elbow compelled him to overlook the 2019 World Championships, with the character of the harm requiring surgical procedure and a stylistic re-think. Becoming a member of forces with Klaus Bartoneitz, a German biomechanics professional, Chopra returned to worldwide competitors after 16 months out and set his sights on Olympic success.
On August 7, 2021, it was achieved. Having laid down a marker by progressing by qualifying needing solely a single throw, Chopra’s first two throws of the ultimate proved unsurpassable.
“My objective was at all times the Tokyo Olympics,” Chopra mentioned on the time. “I put within the laborious work and trusted the method since each single effort counts in relation to success on the highest degree.
“They are saying a lion at all times takes a step again earlier than attacking. I consider a setback in an athlete’s life like that, so I ensured that I gave my 100 per cent throughout the rehab section in order that I may very well be at my very best form on return.”
Born to an agricultural household in rural Haryana, the 26-year-old’s pure acumen for the javelin was established on the age of 10. Taken underneath the wing of Akshay Choudhary, Chopra additionally skilled in lengthy distance operating as a teen. With no specialist teaching, he sought footage of Jan Zelezny, copying the method that took the Czech nice to 3 Olympic golds.
Quickly, Chopra rose by the ranks as India’s brightest prospect. He carried the flag on the 2018 Asian Video games, incomes the Arjuna Ward for Excellent Efficiency in Sports activities and Video games, the second-highest honour in Indian sport. After his Tokyo gold, an improve to the Khel Ratna Award was granted.
Now he’ll try and retain his title. Chopra is the reigning world champion having pipped Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in Budapest final yr, however Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, silver medallist three years in the past, has proven the consistency wanted to problem the champion in what may very well be an exhilarating occasion.
The broader context of Chopra’s success is necessary, too. India are regarded as intent on bringing the 2036 Olympics to the nation, with Ahmedabad lined up as a possible host metropolis. Talks are underway about embracing conventional Indian sports activities like kabbadi as a part of the occasion, however India’s lack of Olympic heritage might pose an issue to producing curiosity.
Whereas the introduction of cricket and squash for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles will assist, back-to-back golds for Chopra would shoot him into the sporting stratosphere and doubtlessly herald a brand new period of curiosity and funding in Indian Olympic sport.
