SAI approves Neeraj Chopra's off-season training in USA

The proposal, moved by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), was approved inside four hours to ensure the javelin thrower Chopra can fly out on Sunday.

New Delhi: The Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Friday approved an urgent proposal to enable Tokyo Olympics gold medallist Neeraj Chopra to travel to the US for a 90-day off-season training camp in the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Centre, ahead of a busy 2022 season.

The proposal, moved by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), was approved inside four hours to ensure the javelin thrower Chopra can fly out on Sunday.

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The cost approved to train at the prestigious Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Centre under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) will be Rs 38 lakh. The proposal was moved after the plan to base the javelin throwers in Potchefstroom was scrapped due to the new COVID-19 strain in South Africa, SAI said in a press release.

Given the uncertainty across the world, SAI decided to not wait for the Mission Olympic Cell meeting to approve the proposal. The sports body will seek ratification of the decision from the next meeting of the MOC since the approval was granted to make sure that Chopra can leave India on Sunday.

Chopra will thus start his preparation for the 2022 World Athletics Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games at the training centre in Chula Vista, San Diego. The state-of-the-art centre, spread over 155 acres, is one of the world's finest training and competition venues.

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The proposal for the 90-day camp is from December 5 to March 4 next. It will help him prepare for the packed season which includes the World Championships in Oregon, US, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

Coach Klaus Bartonietz will travel to the US with Chopra, who created history by becoming the country's first medallist in Olympic track and field events when he claimed gold in javelin throw at Tokyo 2020.

IANS