Patiala, 09 November (Sports Desk)
Neeraj Chopra, India’s star javelin thrower, has appointed three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Jan Zelezny as his new coach ahead of the next season.
The 58-year-old Czech is considered the greatest javelin thrower of the modern era. During his illustrious career, he won three Olympic gold medals (1992, 1996, 2000) and an equal number of World Championships (1993, 1995, 2001). Zelezny also holds the world record in the event with a throw of 98.48 meters.
Chopra was previously coached by German biomechanics specialist Klaus Bartonietz.
The Tokyo Olympic gold medalist and Paris Olympic silver medalist Chopra said he has been a huge fan of Zelezny since his early days and used to watch his videos to improve his skills.
“I have always admired Jan’s technique and accuracy. I have spent a lot of time watching his videos. He has been at the top of this sport for so many years. It is very important for me to have him by my side because both of us have a similar throwing style and he has immense experience,” Chopra said.
“It is an honor to have Jan with me as I move to the next phase of my career. I am very excited to work with him,” he added.
see this link also…….Sanju Samson’s Historic Back-to-Back T20I Centuries
Chopra has yet to throw a javelin beyond 90 meters but is committed to achieving this feat, and Zelezny’s experience could be crucial in helping him achieve this goal.
Zelezny expressed his delight at being appointed Chopra’s coach, saying that he had been keen to coach the Indian star since the beginning because he sees a lot of potential in him.
“I said many years ago that Neeraj has all the qualities to become a great athlete. I also said that if I were to coach an athlete outside the Czech Republic, my first choice would be Neeraj. I see a lot of potential in him because he is young and capable of improving,” Zelezny said in a statement.
