NEW DELHI, JUNE 1 : In an ambitious bid to defend his Olympic title, Indian javelin sensation Neeraj Chopra is set to embark on a rigorous 60-day training tour across Europe ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The reigning Olympic and world champion will fine-tune his skills in Finland, Germany, and Turkiye, accompanied by his trusted coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha.

Neeraj, 26, will kick off his preparation in Kuortane, Finland, a renowned training hub for track and field athletes. He will then move to Saarbrucken, Germany in June, before completing his training at the state-of-the-art Gloria Sports Arena in Turkiye until July 28. This extensive training regimen is designed to ensure Neeraj is in peak form for the men’s javelin throw competition, slated for August 6 and 8 at the Stade de France.

The champion javelin thrower, who recently clinched gold at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, started his season with an impressive 88.36m throw, securing second place at the Doha Diamond League. Although he had to withdraw from the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in Czechia due to a minor adductor muscle tweak, Neeraj is set to compete next at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Turku, Finland on June 18.

Meanwhile, Indian shotgun shooters Rajeshwari Kumari and Maheshwari Chauhan are also gearing up for intensive training in Italy. Rajeshwari, under the guidance of her coach David Kostelecky, will compete in the ISSF World Cup in Lonato. Maheshwari will train with coach Riccardo Fillipelliwill and also participate in the same prestigious event.

Adding to the list of athletes sharpening their skills overseas, long jumper Shaili Singh’s training camp in Europe has been extended until June 23, encompassing Lisbon, Paris, Athens, and Geneva. She will be coached by Bobby George. Shuttlers Maisnam Meiraba and Anupama Upadhyayz will compete in significant international tournaments, including the BWF Super 100 Kaohsiung Masters and the BWF Super 500 Australia Open.

Closer to home, archer Atanu Das will undergo a focused two-month training period at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, under the expert guidance of coach Mim Gurung.As India’s top athletes push their limits in preparation for Paris 2024, the nation watches with bated breath, hopeful for a stellar performance on the world stage.(UNI)