Why Neeraj Chopra decided to compete at World Championships despite back injury

Neeraj Chopra in action at World Championships (AP Photo)

For the first time in seven years, Neeraj Chopra found himself off the podium at a major event. At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the Indian javelin thrower finished eighth with a best throw of 84.03m in defence of the title he had won in Budapest in 2023. Speaking to the media after the competition, Neeraj admitted that a persistent back injury, lack of training, and difficult weather conditions played a decisive role in his performance.

“It’s okay, it’s sports, it’s life,” Neeraj said, accepting the rare setback with calmness. “Normally, I handle these situations, but today was a different day. Before coming here, when we were training in the Czech Republic, our team knew that I had a problem. I informed the federation about my back issue. I hadn’t trained for two weeks. It was being rehabbed, and in the beginning, we weren’t sure if I would even be able to play.”

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Despite doubts, Neeraj decided to compete, testing himself with a light session and a few easy throws in the lead-up to the competition. But on the big night, he admitted that he did not feel fully ready. “I was away from training, so I didn’t feel healthy,” he said. “Whatever happened today, we will learn from it and accept it. In the next season, we will try to do better.”

The evening brought another challenge — heavy rain just before his fifth attempt. “In the fifth throw, it rained heavily, and I slipped,” recalled Neeraj. “It was a very bad throw. The grip was wet, the runway was slippery, and I couldn’t get the right timing. But it’s okay. The next season will start soon.”

Even in disappointment, Neeraj found joy in his compatriot’s performance. Sachin Yadav, who threw a personal best of 86.27m, narrowly missed out on a medal but impressed with his composure on such a big stage. “I am very happy for Sachin,” said Neeraj. “I was thinking he could take a medal for India today. It was good that he did such good throws on such a big platform. He will do very well in the future.”

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Revealing more details about his injury, the 26-year-old said: “As soon as I tried a back throw in training with a shot put, I felt a shock on my left side. I couldn’t even walk properly.

“It was on the September 4 morning, and we got an MRI done in Prague — it showed a problem with the disc. I missed training, and my mindset changed. It had a big impact. Normally, when I am fit, I have the belief that I will throw well. Today I just wanted to be safe.”

Despite finishing outside the medals, Neeraj remained optimistic. “This time will make me stronger,” he promised. “Sport can be anything — injuries, weather, anything can happen. But I will come back fit. The next season will be different.”