AFI Sacks Neeraj Chopra's Former Javelin Throw Coach Uwe Hohn, Had Criticised Federation In June

Uwe Hohn was Neeraj Chopra's coach from 2017. He also holds the world record in Javelin Throw which he created in 1984.

New Delhi: Uwe Hohn, the German javelin thrower who was hired by the Athletics Federation of India in 2017, has been sacked. He was Neeraj Chopra's coach during his gold medal conquest at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2018. Hohn is being sacked by the AFI as his performance was "not good", as told by AFI president Adille Sumariwalla. 

Uwe Hohn was a German athlete who has a world record throw of 104.80 m that was made in 1984. 

“We are changing Uwe Hohn. His performance is not good. We will bring two (new) coaches," AFI president Adille Sumariwalla told PTI. "We are doing what we have to do. Those who think that analysis is not happening and action is not being taken… everything is being done,” he added.

AFI planning commission chief Lalit K Bhanot said that Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh, and Annu Rani didn’t want to train with Uwe Hohn.

“The time I spent with coach Hohn, I believe, was good and I respect him. In that year (2018), I won gold at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. I thought that his (Hohn’s) training style and technique were a bit different," Neeraj Chopra had said after winning the Olympic gold.

It is to be noted that Uwe Hohn had criticised the AFI and Sports Authority of India (SAI) in June 2021. 

"When I came here, I thought I could change something but it’s probably too difficult with these people at SAI or AFI. I don’t know if it’s lack of knowledge or ignorance," said Hohn to Indian Express.

"Besides camps or competitions, even when we ask via our nutritionist for supplements for our athletes, we don’t get the right stuff. Not even for TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) athletes – medal contenders handpicked by the Sports Ministry. If we get something, we are very happy," he said.