Neeraj Chopra's Coach Opens Up About The Rigorous Training That Went Into Securing Olympic Gold

Bartonietz has been Neeraj's coach since 2019. He said that stability is something that Chopra improved on over the period of two years of training. 

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Neeraj Chopra's coach, Germany's Klaus Bartonietz opened up about the amount of hard work that went into. He spoke about the kind of training modules that he had to follow with Neeraj Chopra. Chopra secured the gold medal with a throw of 87.58 meters. 

Bartonietz has been Neeraj's coach since 2019. He said that stability is something that Chopra improved on over the period of two years of training. 

Thank you "King Klaus" for making #NeerajChopara the New OLYMPIC CHAMPION

Here is what Neeraj Chopra's coach Dr. Klaus Bartonietz has to say to #India @Media_SAI @IndiaSports @Adille1 @KirenRijiju @Anurag_Office pic.twitter.com/eVwwSOEiFB

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) August 8, 2021

"Run-up speed, (not) blocking incorrect body position and 'rushing' into the throw as a young powerful athlete.... these were the shortcomings I found (at the beginning). The follow-through should be more forward than on sideways," Bartonietz told PTI in an interview from his home in Germany.

"I made him understand and he started understanding the correct way. There was nothing dramatic. The angle of release should be right, you need to know aerodynamics if you want to throw farther. We have to do step by step to develop.

"No doubt, there are improvements we have made. There were shortcomings but we have worked them out." The German coach said that Chopra is an "all-rounder" athlete who is good at other exercises apart from a javelin. He was all praises for Chopra and said that he knew Neeraj will be a top thrower. 

"I was sure, everybody was sure because some people do very well in junior level but worn out later on. But he was going in a sophisticated way (after becoming world junior champion). So, everybody was sure he has a bright future," he said. 

Chopra's first throw went for 87.03 meters, second for 87.58 meters while the third throw was 79.79 meters. His second throw of 87.58 meters was enough for India to secure a gold medal in Tokyo Olympics 2020. As revealed by the coach, it was part of the plan to give the best effort in the first two throws. 

"You cannot save your best throw consciously till the end. You don't know whether you will make the first three," the coach said.