NEW DELHI: Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra may have been absent from the world athletics circuit for months, but the Olympic and world champion is now nearing a comeback after an extensive period of rehabilitation and technical rebuilding aimed at preserving his body for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.The 28-year-old from Panipat has not competed for 232 days since May 8 since finishing eighth at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September – the first time since his historic gold medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics that he has failed to finish on the podium. As the current international athletics season gathers momentum ahead of key events like the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, Diamond League meets and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, Chopra’s fans have been eagerly anticipating his comeback.
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Why Ahmedabad is probably the sports capital of India? | Bombay Sports Stock ExchangeWhile Chopra may still be considering competing at the Glasgow CWG, his immediate goal remains to defend his title at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. With that in mind, his potential comeback events could be Irena Szewiska Memorial in Poland on May 29, Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June 3, Ostrava Golden Treke in Czech Republic on June 16 and FBK Games in Netherlands on June 21, sources told TOI.According to sources, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) officials recently spoke to Chopra about his comeback plans and were informed that his rehabilitation phase is nearing an end. Chopra has spent the past several months focusing almost exclusively on recovery and rehabilitation from multiple physical setbacks, including groin, ankle and back-related issues, sources said. “After Tokyo Worlds, Chopra realized that recovery had to become a top priority. He had groin and back problems for a while, which affected his preparation and performance. Since then, most of his work has revolved around rehabilitation, regaining mobility and regaining full fitness,” the source said.Chopra initially trained at his long-term off-season base in Potchefstroom, South Africa, before recently moving to Antalya, Turkey, where he now trains under trusted coach Jaiveer Chaudhary and physio Ishaan Marwa. The move allowed him to focus on controlled training rather than the immediate pressure of competition.“Now he’s once again started preparing specifically for competition. Previously, his lessons focused on gym work, recovery and conditioning. The focus has gradually shifted to event-specific training. Rather than rush back into elite competition, Chopra has been advised to enter the season with relatively smaller invitationals. The idea is to gradually build rhythm and confidence, rather than immediately trying to stay healthy. Staying at the big events is for a person too hard. the next Olympic cycle,” the source explained.Chopra was originally expected to start her season at the Diamond League in Doha on May 8, but the event was postponed to June 19 due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. During his practice in Antalya, Chopra is also believed to have made important technical adjustments to his pitching mechanics, particularly his “blocking” motion – the key phase of landing after the release that prevents athletes from crossing the foul line.“It wasn’t the throw itself that caused the problems,” the source said. “The stress came from landing and the way he locked his body after release. He worked on that aspect extensively along with adjusting his throwing pattern. He even replaced long distance running with sprint work to reduce the stress.”With the LA Games in her sights, Chopra is expected to continue training under Chaudhary without bringing in a foreign coach.
