He has single-handedly raised the profile of Indian athletics internationally and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra now wants the country to go a notch higher in the pecking order by hosting global events in the next two-three years. India is set to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships but Chopra said the country can host other global competitions of smaller scale before that. “It will be good if we host 2029 World Championships but 2029 is a long way to go.
I think India can host some big global competitions like Continental Tour event (of World Athletics) before that,” Chopra told PTI in an interview felicitated by Switzerland Tourism.
Continental Tour is an annual series of track and field competitions held under the aegis of World Athletics. It forms the second tier of international one-day meetings after the Diamond League. That means, his pre-Olympic competition schedule will be of two months or a little over that. “I am yet to chalk out a final plan. Probably, we will do that in March. “It’s a dream come true for me to meet Roger Federer in Zurich.
The Paris Games begin on July 26. The Doha leg of the Diamond League is scheduled for May 10 and he had started his season last year from the Qatar capital in the same prestigious competition.
The reigning world champion said holding global events in India will also create awareness among fans. He also said that live telecast or streaming of global events like Diamond League Meetings, especially where Indian athletes are competing, should be easily available for Indian fans. Chopra, who is targetting a successful defence of his Olympic gold in Paris Games this year, said he will start competing in May. But most probably I will start competition in May,” he said. I have always admired his skill, his spirit of true sportsmanship and his ability to inspire millions around the world,” Chopra said about his meeting with Federer. Asked which aspects of his game he would work on before the Olympics, Chopra said, “I will work a bit on technique and then on strength.
