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Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra recently pulled off a hilarious prank on his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz, who is set to depart from his role after the ongoing season. In a viral video posted on Instagram, Chopra, Bartonietz, and physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha created their own version of the popular "give me my money" trend.The video begins with Chopra saying "give me my money," while Marwaha and Bartonietz clap. Marwaha repeats the phrase, and everyone claps again. However, when it's Bartonietz's turn, no one claps, leaving him puzzled. Chopra and Marwaha then burst into laughter, revealing their prank.The video has garnered widespread attention, with fans and fellow athletes alike praising Chopra's sense of humor. It also highlights the close bond between Chopra and Bartonietz, who have worked together for five years.Under Bartonietz's guidance, Chopra has achieved remarkable success, including winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the silver medal at the Paris Games, and the world championship title. He has also become the Diamond League champion and the Asian Games gold medalist.Bartonietz's decision to step down as Chopra's coach is due to his age and family commitments. The 75-year-old German has expressed his desire to spend more time with his family and reduce his travel schedule.Chopra has expressed his gratitude for Bartonietz's contributions to his career and has wished him well in his future endeavors. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has also acknowledged Bartonietz's significant role in Chopra's success and has thanked him for his dedication.As Bartonietz prepares to depart, Chopra will be looking for a new coach to guide him in the next phase of his career. The Indian javelin star is determined to continue his winning ways and cement his legacy as one of the greatest athletes in the world.

Neeraj Chopra, India's star javelin thrower, is set to bid farewell to his long-time coach, Klaus Bartonietz, after a successful five-year partnership. The 75-year-old German coach has decided to step down due to his age and family commitments."He (Bartonietz) is 75 and he now wants to be with his family and does not want too much travel also," an official from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) told PTI. "It is not that Neeraj wants to end the association, it is Bartonietz who has expressed his inability to continue as his (Neeraj's) coach."Chopra, 26, has been working with Bartonietz, a biomechanics expert, since 2019. The German initially joined as a biomechanical expert but later took over as Chopra's coach after Uwe Hohn's fallout with the AFI and the Sports Authority of India.Under Bartonietz's guidance, Chopra has achieved remarkable success. He won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, the silver medal at the Paris Games, and became the world champion and Diamond League champion. He also won the gold medal at the Asian Games.Chopra's partnership with Bartonietz has been a key factor in his rise to the top of the javelin throwing world. Bartonietz's expertise in biomechanics has helped Chopra improve his technique and maximize his potential.The AFI is now looking for a new coach for Chopra. The federation is expected to announce the new coach in the coming weeks.

India's Paralympic contingent is poised to make a strong push towards its target of 30 medals at the Paris Paralympics 2024. Friday's schedule promises a flurry of medal opportunities, particularly in athletics.In the Men's Javelin Throw F54 Final, Dipesh Kumar will be a strong contender for a podium finish. Praveen Kumar will aim for glory in the Men's High Jump T64 Final, while Bhavanaben Ajabaji Chaudhary will seek a medal in the Women's Javelin Throw F46 Final. Soman Rana and Hokato Hotozhe Sema will represent India in the Men's Shot Put F57 Final.Para-powerlifting will also feature prominently on Friday, with Kasthuri Rajamani competing in the Women's 67kg Final. India has a realistic chance of finishing among the top 12 teams in the Paris Paralympics 2024 medals tally. To achieve this, the contingent needs to maintain its momentum and secure a significant number of medals in the remaining days of competition.

Simran Sharma, India's reigning world champion in the women's 100m - T12, has secured her place in the final at the Paris Paralympics. Accompanied by her guide Abhay Singh, the 24-year-old finished second in semifinal 2 with a time of 12.33 seconds at the Stade de France on Thursday.Simran's journey to the final was not without its challenges. Born prematurely, she spent the first 10 weeks of her life in an incubator, where it was discovered that she had visual impairment. Despite the obstacles, Simran's determination and resilience have propelled her to the pinnacle of her sport.Coached by her husband Gajendra Singh, an Army Service Corps officer, Simran trains at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. Her hard work and dedication have paid off, as she has consistently dominated the National Championship and Indian Open in both the 100m and 200m since 2022.Simran's success on the international stage is equally impressive. She won two silver medals at the Asian Para Games in Hangzhou last year and clinched the T12 200m gold in style at the World Championships in Japan in June. Her performance at the Paris Paralympics is a testament to her unwavering spirit and the support of her team.In the semifinal, Simran finished behind Katrin Mueller-Rottgardt of Germany, who clocked 12.26 seconds. Omara Durand of Cuba topped the first semifinal with a time of 12.01 seconds. As per the rules, the first-placed runner in each semifinal and the next two fastest advanced to the final. Simran's time of 12.33 seconds was the third fastest overall, securing her a spot in the final.Simran's journey from being mocked for her visual impairment to winning gold at the World Para Athletics Championships and now reaching the Paralympics final is an inspiration to all. Her story is a reminder that with determination and support, anything is possible.

India's Paralympic Contingent Aims for Record-Breaking Performance in ParisIndia's Paralympic contingent is poised to make history at the Paris Paralympics 2024, aiming to surpass their previous best tally of 25 medals. With several promising athletes in contention, the Indian team is confident of achieving their ambitious goal.On Thursday, September 5, India will have a busy schedule with athletes competing in shooting, archery, athletics, power-lifting, and judo. In shooting, Sidhartha Basu and Mona Agarwal will participate in the Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1 event, while Pooja and Harvinder Singh will represent India in the Mixed Team Recurve Open (Pre Quarterfinals).Athletics holds another medal opportunity for India, with Arvind competing in the Men's Shot Put F35. In archery, Pooja and Harvinder Singh will face Amanda Jennings and Taymon Kenton-Smith of Australia in the Mixed Team Recurve Open (Pre Quarterfinals). If they qualify, they will advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and potentially the medal matches.Power-lifter Ashok will compete in the Men's up to 65kg final, while judokas Kokila and Kapil Parmar will participate in the Women's 48kg J2 and Men's 60kg J1 events, respectively.India's Paralympic contingent has already made a strong start to the Games, with several athletes securing medals in various events. The team's determination and resilience are evident, and they are eager to continue their success in Paris.The Indian government and sports authorities have provided significant support to the Paralympic contingent, ensuring that athletes have access to world-class training facilities and resources. The team's performance at the Paris Paralympics is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and they are determined to make India proud.