The Gurus of Neeraj Chopra: Who are the men behind Indian athlete’s greatness?
India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra is the flag bearer for athletics in the country. The young icon has been an inspiration on and off the field for athletes not only in India but across several countries in South Asia.
On Sunday, 27 August, Neeraj Chopra created history by winning the gold medal in the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest. Neeraj, in his second attempt, threw an effort of 88.17m which was not crossed by the rest of the athletes.
World Athletics Championship 2023: Highlights
In a short span of time Neeraj has been able to conquer the prestigious Diamond League, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, as well as the coveted Olympics. Born in Haryana’s Khandra village, Chopra from a very young age showed signs of promise. And here is a list of a few of those people who were able to give Chpopra some valuable guidance in the crucial stages of his career.
Jaiveer Singh and Naseem Ahmed
Like many young kids in India Neeraj Chopra was interested in sports. At a tender age in the village of Khandra, Jaiveer Singh spotted him and showed him the ropes of the art known as javelin throwing. Jaiveer’s coaching helped Neeraj gain interest in the sport which would one day help inspire many.
At 14 years of age, Neeraj trained under the tutelage of Naseem Ahmed at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. Ahmed trained him in a unique manner which helped him understand the biomechanics of the sport better.
“As he made throws with cross legs and had a wide last stride, it gave him the required momentum for the final jerk for smooth throws,” Naseem Ahmad had told The Indian Express in an interview.
“Starting from throwing with two strides to three strides and five strides, we would progress to a full run-up each day and it helped him master the landing technique too,” he had further added.
Gary Calvert and Kashinath Naik
In 2016, Neeraj Chopra made history at the World U20 Championships in Poland by securing a gold medal with a record-breaking junior world throw of 86.48m. During this period, he was under the tutelage of Coach Gary Calvert and his assistant Kashinath Naik. Calvert, an Australian national, played a pivotal role in shaping Chopra’s career.
However, he tragically passed away in 2018 due to a heart attack while in Beijing, where he was serving as the coach for the Chinese national team.
Kashinath Naik, a bronze medallist in javelin throw at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, recalls Chopra as a promising junior athlete who, despite his slender frame, demonstrated immense energy in his throws.
Following his successful stint with Calvert and Naik, Chopra trained under the guidance of German coach Werner Daniels in preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games. His hard work and dedication paid off when he clinched the gold medal at the games.
Uwe Hohn
Certainly the most legendary name in the line-up, German legend Uwe Hohn trained Neeraj between 2017-2018. Hohn still holds a unique place in athletic history as the only individual to have ever thrown a javelin beyond the 100-meter mark. This extraordinary feat was accomplished in Berlin in 1984 when Hohn recorded a staggering throw of 104.8 meters.
This unprecedented achievement led to a significant change in the design of the javelin in 1986. The center of gravity was shifted forward on the javelin to curtail throws that were at risk of exceeding the available space in stadiums.
Hohn was ousted by the Athletics Federation of India for his comments on the federation and Sports Authority of India.
Klaus Bartonietz
In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Neeraj Chopra made history by securing the country’s first-ever track and field medal – a gold. This monumental achievement was significantly influenced by Klaus Bartonietz, who began coaching Chopra in late 2019, succeeding Uwe Hohn, another German javelin throw legend.
Bartonietz, renowned for his expertise in biomechanics, introduced changes to Chopra’s technique, which played a crucial role in his Olympic success. Following Chopra’s victory, Bartonietz expressed immense satisfaction and pride, stating that Chopra was the best in the world.
“The joy I feel is overwhelming. It’s a joy for Neeraj that he didn’t just secure a medal; he won gold, establishing himself as the world’s best javelin thrower,” Bartonietz said.
