Neeraj Chopra Visits Former Coach Jai Chaudhary in Panipat

Indian javelin throw ace Neeraj Chopra has reunited with Jai Chaudhary, who mentored the Olympic medallist during his formative years, after parting ways with Czech coach Jan Zelezny earlier this month.

The two have linked up in Potchefstroom for a 32-day camp, which runs till February 5, to prepare for the 2026 athletics season.

The South African city is a major training base for javelin throwers from across the world. Neeraj also built up for his 2025 season from the same overseas base.

A former javelin throw athlete himself, Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary, popularly known as Jai, was essentially Neeraj Chopra’s first coach.

He was responsible for teaching the fundamentals of the sport to Neeraj at Panipat Stadium in Haryana back, which is located near the former world champion’s native village.

After Jai Chaudhary quit the sport, he became a coach and trained youngsters in Panipat.

Neeraj’s support team at the Potchefstroom training camp also includes his long-time physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha.

Neeraj and Zelezny were originally scheduled to work together through the end of the 2026 season. While neither side disclosed the exact reason behind the split, both confirmed that the decision to part ways was mutual and amicable.

Neeraj had joined forces with the legendary Czech coach after German biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz stepped away from the role at the end of 2024.

Zelezny, who holds the men’s javelin throw world record, quickly introduced key technical refinements to Neeraj’s throwing technique and the impact was immediate.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion broke the coveted 90-metre barrier for the first time at the Doha Diamond League in May last year.

However, Neeraj Chopra’s 2025 campaign was repeatedly disrupted by fitness concerns. He struggled with injuries for much of the season and eventually finished an underwhelming eighth at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he competed despite carrying a back injury.

The Indian javelin star is already set for a demanding 2026 schedule, which includes an impending title defence at the Asian Games in Japan.