Neeraj Chopra NDTV Exclusive - "I Hope There Will Be 3 Indians On Javelin Podium In LA 2028 Olympics"

Neeraj Chopra spoke to NDTV at the UBS Athletics Kids Cup 2026© AFP

Neeraj Chopra has been nothing short of a trailblazer in Indian sport, taking the country to never-done-before heights across international events, including a gold and a silver at the Olympics. Now, the 28-year-old javelin star is aiming to mould the youth to ensure that India continues to grow in leaps and bounds in sports. In an exclusive interview with NDTV at the UBS Athletics Kids Cup, Neeraj shared his vision for the future. He also set a bold target in javelin for the LA 2028 Olympics.

"Jump, throw, speed, running - these should be the roots for any child. When I played in the Zurich Diamond League for the first time, there I saw the UBS Athletics Kids Cup being held. Since then, I've felt that this is very important for the kids. Many elite Swiss athletes have emerged from the Athletics Kids Cup, and I feel this is a very good platform to show the pathway to the kids in the world of sport," Neeraj told NDTV.

Neeraj's Goal For The Future

The UBS Athletics Kids Cup is a tournament held in both Switzerland and India. In 2026, it is being held in Sonipat in the Indian state of Haryana for the first time, with 250,000 children taking part. Neeraj, who hails from Haryana, clarified the programme's long-term goal.

"Our target is to make sure as many schools as possible get involved in this. Schools should have a culture of making sports a part of children's growth," Neeraj said.

"Absolutely (on if this will help the kids in the long run), because they'll gain knowledge from the very beginning. When kids feel nervous by stepping on the field, it'll help create the right mindset for them for the future. The main thing is the kids are getting a platform at a young age.

Neeraj's Bold Javelin Targets

Neeraj also acknowledged India's rise in javelin, a sport that he has brought fame to since his historic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In 2026, India achieved double podium finishes in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games - the latter was especially impressive, given Neeraj did not participate.

"It's a brilliant thing. In the previous Asian Games, myself and (Kishore) Jena shared the podium. In the Commonwealth Games this year, it was me and Yash Vir. Now, Yash Vir and Rohit have shared the podium at this year's Asian Games. It's great how we're growing in the field of javelin," he said.

The 28-year-old said that India should try to fill out the entire podium in LA 2028 in javelin.

"The goal will absolutely be to have two Indians on the podium in LA 2028. In fact, I hope it will be three instead of two. But that will be very difficult, and we'll have to work really hard for it," he stated.

He also noted the progress that India has made throughout the world of sports, and not just in javelin.

"Not only javelin, but India is improving across other sports too. The mindset is changing among the athletes. They know their priorities, and now we're trying to mould the younger generations for the future," Neeraj said.

"We're doing well in both the Asian Games and Asian Para Games. The goal should be to grow in both forms together," he added.

Neeraj's Road To Recovery

2026 has been an injury-plagued season for Neeraj, restricting him to only two major events in the calendar year. The javelin star confirmed that he's out for the rest of the year, but is looking to make a grand comeback in 2027.

"After the Doha Diamond League, I suffered a ligament twist in my ankle. I recently spoke to my doctor; in a few weeks, I'll be able to start running, and hopefully then make a good comeback next year," Neeraj revealed.

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