Neeraj Chopra scripted history when he won the silver medal at the World Athletics Championships. The 24-year-old became the second Indian to bag a medal in the tournament. Before him, the only person to have won a medal at the World Championships was Anju Bobby George. She won bronze at the 2003 World Athletics Championships. Neeraj Chopra registered an 88.13m throw to win his silver.
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Javelin throw is a sport that requires a good physique and inner strength. It takes years for a player to train and compete at the highest level.
According to Neeraj Chopra’s physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha, Neeraj was ‘out of shape’ a few months before the tournament. ‘’It was almost like starting from zero because there was a four-month gap,’’ Marwana told The Indian Express.
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Neeraj had to reduce his body fat percentage to 10 which was 16 at the beginning of the year. ‘’For a javelin thrower, around 10 and 10.5 is good,’’ said the physiotherapist. Neeraj began throwing after two months of training as he approached the World Athletics Championships.
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Marwana further said sleep plays a very important role in an athlete’s preparation before a big tournament.
“Optimal sleep is above all. About eight to 10 hours of sleep is required. He (Chopra) has understood that no matter how many recovery options we choose, sleep is the top most. If you don’t get proper sleep then you cannot recover,’’ Marwana said.
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Neeraj began his preparation for the World Athletics Championships at Chula Vista in California. The Olympic champion worked on his flexibility and power.
The role of the shoulder, hip, and ankle are huge when it comes to throwing a javelin, and that requires months of strength training, weight lifting, and hours of cardio. Marwana believes that to keep an athlete injury-free, the flexibility of muscles like the hamstring is critical. Lack of muscle flexibility can lead to micro tears or other injuries that can keep the athlete out of action for weeks or even months.
Neeraj Chopra had undergone an elbow surgery in 2019 which, according to his physiotherapist, made him ‘wiser’ about his body. 80% of elbow surgeries restrict athletes in arm extension. Neeraj remained in the precious 20% and went on to collect two medals in one year.
