(Watch) Neeraj Chopra pens emotional farewell note to coach Klaus Bartonietz, wishes him happy retirement

Klaus Bartonietz had been coaching Neeraj Chopra since 2019.

Neeraj Chopra penned a heartfelt note to bid farewell to his coach, Dr. Klaus Bartonietz. He took to X to thank his mentor for guiding him to success and helping him grow as an athlete and a person. Chopra’s five-year association with Bartonietz has come to an end as the pair had a glorious tenure in the International arena.

The two-time Olympic medallist wished his coach a happy retirement. He said,’Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. I will miss the pranks and the laughs we shared, but more than anything, I will miss US as a team. Thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of yours.’

I write this without knowing where to begin. Coach, you are more than just a mentor to me. Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person. You have gone out of your way to make sure I was mentally and physically prepared for every competition. You stood… pic.twitter.com/kJxaPqmHmm

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) November 6, 2024

The German biomechanics expert had joined Chopra’s team in 2019 and since then his career trajectory had dramatically shifted upwards. The major podium finishes could be seen in the Tokyo Olympics where Chopra won gold and in Paris where he clinched silver. The German veteran has now decided to retire from Athletics citing family commitments.

Also Read: Who is Sergey Makarov? All you need to know about India’s likely next javelin throw coach

The 75-year-old mentioned he had done the best he could with Chopra in the Javelin throw. He was earlier supposed to end his tenure in 2022 but the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) extended his contract for two more years till the Paris Olympics. The German had a profound impact on Chopra which could also be seen in his performance on the field.

Chopra’s technique had also been adjusted by Bartonietz Bartonietz which further elevated his throws. The 27-year-old will hope to start the new chapter of his career positively. Chopra’s mission remains clear in the 2025 season which are the World Championships in Tokyo and to breach the 90 mark.

With Bartonietz not by his side, it is expected that former javelin thrower Sergey Makarov could take his place. The Russian is a two-time Olympic bronze medallist and can hope to guide Neeraj Chopra to further success in his career. The final decision rests upon the Sports Authority of India (SAI) as fans will wait to see the comeback of Chopra alongside his new coach.

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