Neeraj Chopra Says Titles and Consistency Matter More Than Chasing 90-Metre Mark

GLASGOW, July 26: Two-time Olympic medallist and reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra has said he is not fixated on crossing the 90-metre mark every time he competes, stressing that winning major championships and maintaining consistency are far more important. Speaking ahead of the Commonwealth Games, Chopra said his primary objective is always to win gold against the world’s best athletes rather than chase a particular distance. “I don’t feel that pressure, nor do I obsess over a specific distance. My goal is always to improve, but in major competitions the biggest challenge is winning the title. Distance comes second,” he said. The 28-year-old, who achieved a personal best of 90.23 metres at the Doha Diamond League last year, acknowledged that weather conditions often affect performances in javelin competitions. He said consistency becomes crucial when conditions are difficult, adding that his focus remains on delivering his best regardless of the circumstances. Chopra also welcomed the growing standard of men’s javelin in Asia, saying healthy competition from athletes such as Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage motivates everyone to improve. Returning to the Commonwealth Games for the first time since winning gold on debut at Gold Coast in 2018, Chopra said he has fond memories of the event and is delighted to be back after missing the 2022 edition due to injury. Confident about his fitness after recovering from injury, Chopra said he has worked extensively on his technique and conditioning and is feeling much stronger ahead of the competition. He is scheduled to compete in the men’s javelin qualification on July 30, with rain and strong winds forecast for the event.