Olympic Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. FIle
| Picture Credit score: PTI
He has single-handedly raised the profile of Indian athletics internationally and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra now desires the nation to go a notch larger within the pecking order by internet hosting world occasions within the subsequent two-three years.
India is ready to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships however Chopra mentioned the nation can host different world competitions of smaller scale earlier than that.
“It will likely be good if we host 2029 World Championships however 2029 is a protracted strategy to go. I feel India can host some huge world competitions like Continental Tour occasion (of World Athletics) earlier than that,” Chopra advised PTI in an interview felicitated by Switzerland Tourism.
“This type of world occasion (like Continental Tour occasion) will maintain Indian followers concerned with athletics. If worldwide monitor and area stars come to India and compete in opposition to Indian athletes, will probably be good for the nation’s athletes in addition to for the followers,” he opined.
Continental Tour is an annual collection of monitor and area competitions held beneath the aegis of World Athletics. It kinds the second tier of worldwide one-day conferences after the Diamond League.
The reigning world champion mentioned holding world occasions in India may also create consciousness amongst followers. He additionally mentioned that stay telecast or streaming of world occasions like Diamond League Conferences, particularly the place Indian athletes are competing, ought to be simply accessible for Indian followers.
Chopra, who’s targetting a profitable defence of his Olympic gold in Paris Video games this yr, mentioned he’ll begin competing in Could. Meaning, his pre-Olympic competitors schedule might be of two months or a bit of over that. The Paris Video games start on July 26.
“I’m but to chalk out a ultimate plan. In all probability, we are going to try this in March. However most likely I’ll begin competitors in Could,” he mentioned.
The Doha leg of the Diamond League is scheduled for Could 10 and he had began his season final yr from the Qatar capital in the identical prestigious competitors.
The 26-year-old Chopra is at the moment in Switzerland for a “pre-planned” brief trip. In the course of the course of his keep, he met tennis legend Roger Federer, who’s the worldwide ambassador of Switzerland Tourism, in Zurich. He might be returning to South Africa for coaching quickly.
“It is a dream come true for me to satisfy Roger Federer in Zurich. I’ve at all times admired his ability, his spirit of true sportsmanship and his potential to encourage hundreds of thousands world wide,” Chopra mentioned about his assembly with Federer.
“What impressed me probably the most was his humility and his easy-going attraction that made me really feel so comfy in his presence. We had a beautiful time exchanging notes about our respective passions and life’s experiences on and off the sphere,” mentioned Chopra, who’s Switzerland Tourism’s Friendship Ambassador to India.
Requested which features of his recreation he would work on earlier than the Olympics, Chopra mentioned, “I’ll work a bit on method after which on energy.
“Additionally, I wish to stay injury-free. Up to now few years, there have been small accidents which brought about interruptions in my schedule. So, I’ve to additionally work on small workouts to save lots of myself from accidents.
“There shouldn’t be any distractions due to these sort of small accidents. I wish to be absolutely match and provides my finest in Paris. That’s my focus,” he signed off.