India’s top long jumper Murali Sreesankar on Monday said Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is among the top five track and field athletes in the world because of his ability to adapt to any conditions with ease and excel.
After winning the Olympic gold medal in javelin throw, 25-year-old Neeraj won the silver medal in the World Championships 2022. He is the defending champion in the Diamond League. Apart from this, he also won gold medal in Asian Games (2018) and Commonwealth Games (2018).
Sreesankar had last month become the third Indian after Chopra and discus thrower Vikas Gowda to finish in the top three at the Diamond League in Paris.
Sreesankar said, ‘He (Chopra) adjusts well to all kinds of situations in the world and gives good results in whatever the situation is. He is not only the top javelin thrower, but also one of the top five track and field athletes in the world at the moment.
“At present, Neeraj Bhai can be compared with Sandra Perkovich (discus thrower), Armand Duplantis (pole vault world record holder) and Christian Taylor (American triple jumper). Whatever the circumstances and the burden of expectations, he performs well and that is why he is different from others.
Sreesankar, who cleared his personal best of 8.41m in the qualification round of the National Inter-State Championships in Bhubaneswar (June 15-19), said he can get close to Chopra’s level by next year.
“To reach that level, I need more experience and more and longer training and experience abroad,” he said. This is my first year competing regularly in the Diamond League. I should have done this a few years ago.
“I may not be at that high level till Paris Olympics 2024, but I am sure I will be competitive enough to be in the mix of players at that level,” Sreesankar said.
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