Neeraj Chopra is battling jetlag and anguish. With less than three months to go for the World Athletics Championships, the 20-year old javelin thrower and one of India's brightest medal prospects, is left without a coach. Australian Garry Calvert, who was brought aboard in 2016 on a two year-contract to oversee the performance of the six-member Indian squad, quit his position in April following differences with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and is now headed to China.
The AFI is believed to have forwarded a former world record holder javelin thrower's name to the government for clearance as the next foreign coach.
In the melee, it's the Panipat lad, who qualified for the August World Championships at the Asian Grand Prix second leg in Jiaxing, China last week, who's the worst hit. "To lose a coach at this stage, so close to the World Championships is disheartening," a nonplussed Neeraj told ESPN just after his return from Jiaxing, "Training was going well then suddenly he quit. I got to know pretty late. Whether it's training alone or with a new coach next, the transition can take some time. I don't know what's in store. I'm at a loss."
Last year Neeraj had, with an 86.48m throw, become the first Indian athlete to turn a world champion at any level, winning gold at the Under-20 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. His hurl also breached the old mark of 84.69m set by Latvia's Zigismunds Sirmais by almost two meters. However, he missed out on a Rio Olympics berth with his feat coming after the July 11 qualifying deadline.
AFI, though, maintains that the recent turn of events would not impede World Championship preparations. Calvert, the federation says, wanted his contract extended up to 2020 and his pay doubled at the earliest which they refused to agree to. "We didn't think it would be reasonable to give in to the coach's demands before delivering results at the World Championships," AFI president Adile Sumariwalla says. "In fact, Neeraj's throw in Poland came within few months of Calvert taking charge so it was not really to the coach's credit and the performance hasn't been bettered upon yet. We're getting a much better coach so Calvert taking up a big money offer elsewhere won't affect us at all."
Calvert had coached Australia's Jarrod Bannister to a throw of 89.02 in 2008.
In the run-up to the Asian Grand Prix, Neeraj, who is supported by non-profit group JSW Sports, was left to fend for himself in training with Calvert choosing to stay away for three weeks. "A coach's presence can take a lot of mental baggage off an athlete's mind. I'm hoping the federation arrives at a solution soon. I will also discuss the issue with JSW officials and seek their help."
Neeraj, who's never had a full time coach before this, though, is willing to make peace with his circumstances and work doggedly towards a medal in August. "Practice aap kahin pe bhi karva lo, kitna bhi karva lo, hum kar lenge. Medal ke liye poori koshish karenge. Pehle akele train karte the, ab phir se kar lenge." (I'm ready to practice anywhere, any number of hours. For a medal I'm willing to put in complete effort. I used to train alone earlier, I can do so again).