Neeraj Chopra teams up with Jan Zelezny

Two-time Olympics medallist Neeraj Chopra has announced that his idol Jan Zelezny will be his coach in the new Olympics cycle. Chopra, who parted ways with his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz after the Paris Olympics, has sought Zelezny’s services after failing to break the 90m barrier for the last five years.

“Growing up, I admired Jan’s technique and precision and spent a lot of time watching videos of him. He was the best in the sport for so many years, and I believe that working with him will be invaluable because our throwing styles are similar, and his knowledge is unmatched. It’s an honour to have Jan by my side as I push towards the next level in my career, and I can’t wait to get started,” Chopra said.

Czech Republic’s Zelezny, who is a three-time Olympics and world champion and still holds the world record after registering a throw of 98.48m in 1996, said he would start working with Chopra in South Africa.

“I have already spoken about Neeraj as a great talent many years ago. When I saw him early in his career, I realised great possibilities for top results. I also said that if I should start to coach somebody from outside Czechia, my first choice would be Neeraj,” he said.

“I like his story and I see big potential, as he is young and able to improve. There have been many athletes contacting me for coaching, so for me to take this up means that it is a great honour to have him in my team. We are getting to know each other more closely and will start in person at a traditional winter camp in South Africa. I believe in his progress, especially in the technical aspect, so that he can continue achieving top positions at the main championships,” he added. — PTI