Neeraj Chopra coach raises concern over training; 'Things can't happen in jiffy' responds the javelin thrower

Indian ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra’s coach Uwe Hohn has raised concerns regarding the delay in procuring equipment, the insufficient support staff, poor diet and unimaginative planning that are hampering the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2018 gold medalist’s training.

The legendary German thrower Hohn wrote in an email saying, “Because of the very bad support of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), we need help from people or companies who like to help ASAP because with every week, bit by bit, we lose a chance to reach our high goals!”

Hohn, who trains the javelin throwers at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, wrote: “how Neeraj’s success is celebrated and there is high hope that he wins a medal in Tokyo but still the support to him is so very bad”.

According to Hohn, these are crucial days of training for India’s star athlete as they are less than two years left for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the World Championships.

“I contacted 2 javelin companies and sent my list of equipment to an office in Patiala. But when the company didn’t receive any order I checked last week and found out that this guy hadn’t even opened the mail I sent to him. That’s the way SAI is working!” the 56-year-old’s went on to write.

“Training camps are either delayed or not happening. We can’t go (abroad for tournaments) earlier and don’t get a good block of days to train and fulfill our plans. They blame problems with the visa for it but I can’t believe this,” he writes.

Hohn also added that India’s brightest Olympic prospect is suffering because they only have one recovery system. “I had organised two of them (recovery systems) for our team and SAI reimbursed me for those. Now we have just one and the other is with the 400-m team. Nobody likes to help us, no Athletics Federation of India (AFI), no SAI. SAI is a major problem. It’s been over 4 or 5 months since I made my demand but nothing has happened so far.”

“We have just 1 masseur for 9 male athletes and 1 girl for the female athletes in the camp here and sorry both are not good masseurs! Good massages are also important for a faster recovery, better training, and better results.”

Hohn also wrote that his demands for an assistant coach were met but he feels “very bad to get him to India under these very bad circumstances”.

He concludes by writing: “Neeraj and all other athletes are very proud to compete for India and they like to make India proud of him but we need not only people who celebrate the success with him we need people who support him and the other javelin thrower in India!!!”

Reacting on his coach Uwe Hohn voicing concerns over the delay in procuring equipment, insufficient support staff, and poor diet, Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Sunday said that "things can't happen in a jiffy" in a big country.

Neeraj Chopra, Asian Games & CWG Gold Medallist in Javelin throw on his coach Uwe Hohn voicing concerns over delays in procurement of equipment among other problems: Our coach is from Germany, the system there is different. Ours is a huge country, things can't happen in a jiffy. pic.twitter.com/y0IHw5JBhL

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2018

In an exclusive interview to ANI, the Commonwealth gold medallist said: "Ours is a huge country, things can't happen in a jiffy."

"My coach, Uwe Hohn is from Germany, so sports system there is different from what we have here. He has written to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) so that I can go out and focus on training for 2-3 months. Right now, training is fine but as programmes are happening here and there, I have to attend them which hampers my training. He is in talks but things are getting delayed because of holidays and Christmas," he added.

Chopra, who bagged gold in Asian Games while clocked a national record (87.43 metres) to finish fourth in IAAF Diamond League, also lauded the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for "doing pretty good things for sports in the nation."

"They have run Khelo India and they are working more. I hope in the coming year's things will get better," he added.

Neeraj Chopra, Asian Games & CWG Gold Medallist on his coach Uwe Hohn voicing concerns over delays in procurement of equipment among other problems: Coach said so because there have been delays due to holidays. Sooner it happens the better. We'll be able to focus on our training. pic.twitter.com/6KlpvuOxqr

— ANI (@ANI) December 23, 2018

When quizzed about his preparations for Olympics Tokyo 2020, Chopra said: "First of all I have World Championship next year, so I am preparing for it. If things go well then automatically I will be motivated for Olympics. I have my target set on the Olympics."