Olympic Games-bound Neeraj relieved to be just competing again

Neeraj qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a throw of 87.86m at the ACNE League meeting in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, after missing the entire 2019 season following a surgery on his elbow. “I am feeling good and relieved to have qualified for the Olympics. The best feeling though is that I am able to come back after my injury and subsequent surgery,” said the 22-year-old.

His throw of 87.86m was his second-best ever, behind 88.06m, a feat he achieved during his gold medal-winning show at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games. Neeraj said he has now set his sights on winning a medal in Tokyo in July-August. “I will be taking part in national and international competitions without pressure of having to qualify for the Olympics. I will try my best to win a medal and this performance is giving me hope,” he said. Neeraj, who also won a Commonwealth Games gold medal in 2018, said the pain on his elbow has now fully subsided. “I did not feel any pain on my elbow during the competition. My training in South Africa is going well. I thought I will begin with some caution and avoid straining my elbow. After the first few throws, I felt good and did not have any issues. So, I decided to put in some effort and it came out well,” he said of his performance on Tuesday.

Neeraj missed the World Championships in Doha last year despite qualifying for the event. However, he said he does not regret skipping the showpiece. “I think it was a good decision. I have no regrets and I have forgotten about it now. Since I have qualified, I will now focus on a medal in the Olympics.”

Neeraj underwent an arthroscopic surgery on the elbow of his throwing arm in May last year. He underwent rehabilitation at the National Institute of Sport (NIS), Patiala, and the Inspire Institute of Sport, Vijayanagar, before shifting base to Potchefstroom, South Africa.