New Delhi, 10 January (H.S.): Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Czech legend Jan Zelezny announced on Saturday their mutual decision to end their coaching partnership, which began late 2024 and quickly delivered breakthrough results.

Their collaboration debuted at the 2025 Doha Diamond League, where Chopra achieved a career-defining 90-meter throw for the first time, fulfilling a long-standing dream. Chopra credited Zelezny's guidance for revolutionizing his approach to technique, rhythm, and movement, gaining fresh technical insights from every session.

Chopra reflected that working with Zelezny transformed his mindset profoundly, praising the coach's extraordinary perspective on javelin mechanics. He expressed eagerness for 2026 preparations already underway since early November, prioritizing fitness while eyeing the 2027 World Championships and 2028 Olympics.

Three-time Olympic gold medalist (1992, 1996, 2000) and world champion (1993, 1995, 2001) Zelezny, holder of the 98.48m world record and five of the top nine throws ever, called the partnership memorable. He lauded Chopra's consistency—rarely finishing below second outside Worlds—and lamented a back injury 12 days before Tokyo impacting opportunities, predicting vast future potential while affirming their bond endures beyond athletics.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar