Report: Neeraj Chopra to hire new coach with eyes on World Championships

Neeraj Chopra had been affected by multiple injuries in 2024.

Neeraj Chopra will be next seen in action in 2025 but there will be few changes made in his team. The star athlete is undergoing a search for a coach to join his team. Dr. Adille J. Sumariwalla, the president Athletics Federation of India has confirmed reports of change in Chopra’s coach. The AFI will be hoping to recruit a coach who will further help Chopra improve his performance in the field.

The double Olympic medallist has been working with Klaus Bartonietz since 2019. Their partnership yielded Chopra two Olympic medals, two world championships medals, one Commonwealth Games medal, two Asian Games medals and Diamond League wins. The German biomechanics expert had also helped Chopra while he was struggling with injuries.

Bartonietz has opted not to continue as he has prioritized spending time with his family. The 75 year old could potentially work with Chopra’s coach but that will depend on him. The German biomechanics expert had also helped Chopra while he was struggling with injuries. The 2024 season has seen the Indian legend struggling with groin injury and adductor niggle.

The new coach will look to address Chopra’s injuries concerns and help him in breaching the 90m mark. He had come close twice in the 2024 season in breaching the 90m mark.

Also Read: (Watch) Neeraj Chopra reflects on career moments and performance in Paris Olympics 2024

Neeraj Chopra and his coaches so far till 2024

Chopra was first coached by Jaiveer Singh during his childhood in Khandra village in Haryana’s Panipat. In 2011, when he arrived at Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula, Haryana, he was coached by Naseem Ahmad. After a few years, Chopra was training under Gary Calvert and was assisted by Kashinath Naik.

The 26 year old later had a short stint with Werner Daniels in 2018. Uwe Hohn shaped Chopra’s form in 2017 and 2018. After Hohn’s departure, Bartonietz joined Chopra’s team to lead the Indian into success.

Bartonietz was known to use the phrase, ‘boond boond se ghada bharta hai’ with Chopra. ‘Persistence leads to success’ is what Bartonietz believed in and the results with Chopra proved his statement. Bartonietz’s first assignment was to help the young Indian athlete recover after his elbow surgery in 2019. He guided Chopra through rehabilitation and made sure the Indian made an inspiring comeback.

Bartonietz will now hope that his stalwart finds a coach who can continue his legacy as that could be his final assignment for Chopra.

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