To understand how big a deal this — not missing a throwing session — is for Chopra, it is important to go nine months back in time. Moments after winning the Paris Olympics silver medal last August, he was concerned that the persisting groin injury did not allow him to explore his full range. “I haven’t been able to throw from the full runway. Maximum athletes will have 40-50 throws in one session. With me, who knows, maybe in two or three weeks, I’ll have one session. I have the fear of getting injured,” an anguished Chopra had said.

Fast forward to Thursday — the eve of his first major competition this year — there were no creases on an injury-free Chopra’s forehead. “I feel really good. The last throwing sessions were really great. I am ready,” he said. “I am very excited to open my season in Doha.”

The excitement was also because Friday will mark the official beginning of a new partnership — it will be the Indian’s first competition with javelin legend Jan Zelezny, the current world record holder, as his coach.

The bigger picture, of course, is whether Zelezny can not just help Chopra remain consistent — the Indian has not finished outside the top two at any event since the 2021 Tokyo Olympics — but also build on it. And though he was spared the question on Thursday about crossing the 90m-barrier — something Zelezny did for fun during his playing days — it remains Chopra’s big challenge. More so because Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem continues to give the impression of someone who’ll wake up from his sleep and hurl the javelin long into the 90s.

Nadeem and Chopra may not cross paths before the World Championships in September. But for defending champion Chopra, it’ll be comforting to breach the hallowed mark at least once before.

Chopra has insisted he has a ‘big throw’ in him, but the injury has been holding him back. And Zelezny already seems to have had an impact off the field on the injury front. Chopra hasn’t directly related the two, but earlier this year, he travelled to Prague, where he consulted a doctor Zelezny recommended to heal his groin injury. The Czech has also been striving to make Chopra, who already boasts of a monster mentality, even stronger mentally.

Chopra, who reflected fondly on his time with Klaus Bartonietz, the German who guided him to the top of the world, said it took him a while to get used to Zelezny’s coaching methods.

“In the beginning, it was really hard for me because normally when I trained with Klaus, we trained like today we do throwing, tomorrow lifting… But with Jan, in the morning we do throwing, afternoon lifting. So, it was a new experience for me,” Chopra said. “In the beginning, it was hard but after a few weeks, I really liked it. Now, I did some really great sessions. Everything is going well. He changed few little things in technique. He not just helped me in training but also with other things like how we can compete with a strong mindset,” Chopra said.

That will be put to the test immediately on Friday. Despite Nadeem’s absence in Doha, the field is stacked with champion throwers, with each one of the world’s top seven throwers deciding to show up.

There’s Anderson Peters, the former world champ and Paris Olympics bronze winner. Jakub Vadlejch, the Czech who’s been coached by Zelezny in the past, will be there too. And so will Kenya’s Julius Yego, Germany’s Julian Weber, and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago. And there’s more Indian interest as Kishore Jena will make his international comeback after an ankle surgery that kept him out for six months.

Chopra has frequently competed against all of them and on most occasions, come out on top. What could be closely observed on Friday is how he does it — if, in the new season, he showcases some new tricks.

Chopra’s pre-season preparation has been carefully kept under wraps. Apart from the occasional video that surfaces on the web; either a training throw he himself posts or the one throw from a low-key competition in Potchefstroom, his training base in South Africa, that made it to everyone’s social media timeline. That throw, with minimal effort, travelled 84.52m.

That was a teaser that raised expectations of something bigger when he gets into competition mode. That time is here, and Doha seldom disappoints. “So many javelin throwers throw their personal bests in Doha,” Chopra said. “It’s a great season-opener for throwers, everyone gives their best.” A fit-again Chopra would be hoping for just that.

Doha Diamond League: Throwers who will compete (SB where applicable)

Anderson Peters, World No.1 (PB: 93.07m, SB: 74.90m)
Neeraj Chopra, World No. 2 (PB: 89.94m, SB: 84.52m)
Julian Weber, World No. 3 (PB: 89.54m)
Jakub Vadlejch, World No. 4 (PB: 90.88m)
Julius Yego, World No. 5 (PB: 92.72m
Keshorn Walcott, World No. 6 (PB: 90.16m)
Genki Dean, World No 7 (PB: 84.28m)
Max Dehning, World No 23 (PB: 90.20m, SB 79.61m)
Kishore Jena, World No. 53 (PB: 87.54m; SB: 77.82m)