New Delhi: Ace Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to part ways with long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz after five years of working together. The hugely successful partnership between the Indian athlete and the German coach is finally coming to an end, it was announced in Tuesday. Bartonietz, who is 75-years-old, citied his age and family commitments to part ways with Chopra.
“Bartonietz is 75 and he now wants to be with his family and does not want too much travel also,” an official of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) told news agency PTI. “It is not that Neeraj wants to end the association, it is Bartonietz who has expressed his inability to continue as Neeraj’s coach,” he added.
ICYMI, Neeraj Chopra and coach Klaus Bartonietz have ended their association after 5️⃣ years.
The 75-year-old coach has decided to return home and spend more time with family, said reports.https://t.co/Vxlt6JKSEn#NeerajChopra #javelinthrow #Athletics pic.twitter.com/BgXtLDOGl7
— Khel Now (@KhelNow) October 1, 2024
Neeraj-Bartonietz mutually end partnership
The 26-year-old Neeraj has been working with Bartonietz, who is a biomechanics expert but doubled up as Chopra’s coach, since 2019. As per multiple media reports, the partnership between both has come to an end mutually as Neeraj understood the genuine reasons behind the German coach stepping back. Bartonietz first came on board as a biomechanical expert and took over as Neeraj’s coach after Uwe Hohn fell out with the AFI and the Sports Authority of India.
Under the guidance of the German, Neeraj Chopra bagged the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024, became a world champion and Diamond League champions and also an Asian Games gold medallist in 2023. The AFI will now be looking for a new coach for Neeraj Chopra and they would surely require someone with whom the ace athlete would be comfortable.
Neeraj Chopra’s last outing with the German coach was at the Diamond League final on September 14, 2024, where he finished second with a throw of 87.86m.
Neeraj Chopra is set to part ways with long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz after five years of working together, it was announced in Tuesday. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
