In exactly a month, Neeraj Chopra will begin his 2024 season which will culminate with the Olympics in Paris. There is a lot happening before that, starting with the Doha Diamond League, but one thing that Chopra - and most fans who follow javelin throw - is excited about is the challenge posed by Max Dehning, the 19-year-old who has taken the track and field world by storm. Dehning is the youngest entrant into the coveted 90m club, which Neeraj isn't yet a member of.
"I will have the chance to compete with Max this year - he's already confirmed his participation at the Paavo Nurmi Games," Neeraj said while speaking to journalists on Thursday (and correcting the age, which the questioner had put as 16). "I haven't competed with him yet, but it will be fun to meet him and go up against him for the first time. Mazza aayega [it will be fun]."
Dehning created a storm because he practically popped up out of nowhere. He went from throwing a best of 79.13m in 2022 to a phenomenal throw of 90.20m at the German Winter Throwing Championships in February.
That one throw qualified him for the Paris Olympics, broke a 34-year-old European U-23 record and made him the first thrower to cross the 90m in 2024.
"He improved his best by 10m... he went from 79m to straight 90m+," Neeraj said. "It's like he completely skipped 80m page. It's the first time something like this has happened, toh mazza aayega [it will be fun] to compete with him."
Throughout the interaction, Neeraj was a picture of calm: with his trademark hair-tucked-into-a-snapback look, he explained his routine, joked about how athletes' lives aren't as glorious as they seem, how he's matured since the Tokyo Olympics and how Roger Federer told him that Indian food was among his top five favourite cuisines.
An absolute honour to meet a sporting icon, whose career has been and continues to be an inspiration to people.
I had a great time talking to you, and hopefully we'll meet again. @rogerfederer �� pic.twitter.com/kQUjiiBdB9
- Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) January 25, 2024
And he handled the 90m issue too. Going up against 90m+ throwers does not bother Neeraj, he values consistency over distance. "Most of the athletes I have competed with, from the Tokyo Olympics to last season, have gone past the 90m mark. It's not something new [to me]. "What I feel matters the most is what you do on that day and how much distance you can cover on that day. I keep saying that [competing with 90m+ throwers] gives us a chance to push each other. The further they throw, the better it is. The main thing is when we compete, on that day, who handles the pressure, the competition situation and throws the best, that is what matters to me and that is the biggest challenge."
At the same time, Neeraj is confident of putting the "when will you cross the 90m mark" question to rest before the Paris Games. "Chalo, woh toh usse pehle hi koshish karenge ki aisa kuch hona hai toh usse pehle hi ho jaaye [If it is to happen, I will try to make it happen before]. Things are going well, so maybe we don't have to wait until the Olympics for me to go past the 90m mark."
"[It's funny because] since 2018 I've been stuck between 88-90m but going by the way Kishore [Jena] has improved, you guys keep asking me about crossing the 90m mark, who knows maybe he will cross it before I do," he said with a laugh. "It will be great irrespective of whoever crosses it, but yes we Indians are at a good level and that mark is pending, but we will get past it soon."