Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Talks Javelin, Golf, and His 2027 Aspirations

HE’S NOT JUST ONE OF INDIA’S ELITE ATHLETES, but Olympic royalty who made us believe. The javelin thrower from Panipat, Haryana, who was inducted into the Indian Army as a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO), Neeraj Chopra snared India’s first-ever Olympic gold in athletics at Tokyo 2020. At Paris 2024, he nailed a silver, alongside a cabinetful of honours at the World Athletics Championships, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. And yet, it is his calm poise and clean-cut charm that has carried him into the hearts of millions of Indians.

Esquire India met the 28-year-old at the Omega Trophy 2026 to chat about his plans for 2027, the rise of javelin and the watch on his wrist.

The javelin scene in India has blossomed, and there’s a strong field of competitors emerging internationally, including Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage. How do you feel about the sport’s growth, and does that motivate you to raise your own game?

I’m actually quite happy about this evolution. I’ve always wanted javelin to grow—it was so hard to explain to people what that long thing I travelled with was! The competition and the new faces that we’re seeing on the international stage push me to go beyond what I’ve done so far. They’ve really driven me to do better.

Injuries are a part of an elite athlete’s career, and the expectation is you’ll bounce back fast. Has your approach to injury and rehabilitation changed over the years?

Injuries and the downtime they bring are indeed hard to endure. I’ve had my share of them. I’ve come to realise that your mindset during those phases should be of acceptance so that you can figure out a course of recovery and rehabilitation as soon as possible. It’s easy to overthink things and feel demotivated, but what’s done is done. It’s best to move forward and focus on the comeback.

With your season having got cut short due to injury this year, and you missing the Asian Games, what are your plans for 2027?

The plan is to get back to peak fitness and a competitive mode. I have my sights set on the World Athletics Championships (Beijing). Javelin’s a sport of distances. Any new stats you’re eyeing? I do have my sights on my personal best [90.23m at the 2025 Doha Diamond League] but I’m not obsessing over it. All I have to do is land my best throw.

As someone who enjoys golf, do you find that the game’s emphasis on precision and technique translate to javelin in any way?

In terms of the physical aspect, javelin and golf are poles apart. One needs you to run up and get into position, while the other relies more on precision. I think one could absorb that from golf and use it to nail the accuracy of technique in javelin, such as release angle and trajectory. I really enjoy golf as well—I keep wishing it were just as easy to launch a javelin to golf-course distances!

As an athlete, what do you look for in a watch?

For someone like me, timing and accuracy really matter. The Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light is a watch I love having on my wrist while competing. There’s something special about watching the seconds tick by as your turn to throw draws closer. The anticipation builds with every passing moment

To read more stories from Esquire India's November 2026 issue, pick up a copy of the magazine from your nearest newspaper stand or bookstore. Or click here to subscribe to the magazine.