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Neeraj Chopra, India's star javelin thrower, bid an emotional farewell to his German coach Klaus Bartonietz, who ended their five-year partnership due to family commitments. Bartonietz, 75, guided Chopra to a historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, a silver at the Paris Games, and several other medals.Chopra expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt tribute, acknowledging Bartonietz's profound impact on his growth as an athlete and a person. "You are more than just a mentor to me," Chopra wrote. "Everything you taught has helped me grow both as an athlete and person."Bartonietz's quiet yet impactful presence was highlighted by Chopra. "You were one of the quietest in the stands, but your words to me rang the loudest in my ears when I threw," he said. "I will miss the pranks and the laughs we shared, but more than anything, I will miss US as a team."Indian athletics chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair confirmed that Bartonietz's contract expired after the Paris Olympics and a new coach will be appointed before the end of the year. "The AFI and Neeraj will together look for a coach for him," Nair said.Bartonietz initially joined as a biomechanics expert but later became Chopra's coach after Uwe Hohn's departure. Under Bartonietz's guidance, Chopra achieved remarkable success, including the Tokyo Olympics gold, Paris Games silver, world championship title, Diamond League championship, and Asian Games gold medal.Chopra's emotional farewell underscores the deep bond he shared with Bartonietz, who played a pivotal role in shaping his career. The search for a new coach will be crucial as Chopra aims to continue his dominance in javelin throwing.

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.

Neeraj Chopra's journey to Olympic gold was not without its challenges. After a disappointing experience with his previous coach, Uwe Hohn, Neeraj sought the guidance of German biomechanics expert Klaus Bartonietz. Despite their age difference, the two formed a strong bond based on mutual respect and a shared passion for javelin throwing.Klaus's approach to coaching is characterized by a focus on simplicity and innovation. He believes in empowering Neeraj to make decisions about his training, while providing expert guidance and support. This collaborative approach has allowed Neeraj to develop his own unique style and reach the pinnacle of his sport.Beyond their professional relationship, Klaus and Neeraj share a deep friendship. They engage in playful banter, exchange cultural insights, and support each other through life's ups and downs. This camaraderie has created a positive and supportive environment that has contributed to Neeraj's success.Neeraj's training regimen is meticulously planned with input from Klaus and his physiotherapist, Ishaan Marwaha. They carefully consider objectives, logistics, and competition schedules to ensure optimal preparation. Neeraj's dedication to his craft is evident in his willingness to experiment and push his limits.While training is a serious endeavor, the trio also finds time for fun and relaxation. Neeraj's love for Punjabi music often leads to impromptu dance sessions, and he has even taught Klaus a few Hindi words. Their off days are spent recovering, planning, and occasionally indulging in movie nights.As Neeraj prepares for the Paris Olympics, he and his team are focused on maintaining their winning formula. They believe in Neeraj's ability to perform under pressure and are confident that he can achieve another podium finish. Their bond, built on trust, respect, and a shared love for the sport, will undoubtedly play a crucial role in his continued success.

Neeraj Chopra, India's reigning Olympic javelin throw champion, is in the final stages of his preparations for the Paris Games, and his coach, Klaus Bartonietz, has dismissed concerns about his fitness.Chopra has been troubled by an adductor niggle in recent months, but Bartonietz insists that the issue is now resolved. "Everything is according to plan. At the moment, no issue with that (adductor niggle), it's fine, it looks good, hoping to remain like that till the Olympics," Bartonietz told PTI.The 26-year-old Chopra has had a mixed season in terms of fitness, withdrawing from the Ostrava Golden Spike in May as a precautionary measure. However, he made a strong comeback by winning gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland in June with a throw of 85.97m.Chopra opted out of the Paris Diamond League on July 7, but Bartonietz said that the event was never a part of his competition calendar this year.With just two weeks to go until the Olympic qualification round, Chopra is intensifying his training. "It's just over two weeks left in the Olympics, so the intensity of training is high. He is having full throwing sessions," Bartonietz said.Chopra's training routine includes sprinting, jumping, throwing, and weightlifting sessions. Bartonietz said that the approach is similar to the one adopted before the Tokyo Olympics.Chopra has competed in only three events ahead of the Paris Games, compared to five before Tokyo. Bartonietz does not see this as a disadvantage, saying that the number of competitions is not a determining factor."You can compete in many events or not, it's tough to say what is enough (number of events). It depends on the situation," Bartonietz said.Bartonietz also addressed Chopra's decision to skip the Paris Diamond League, saying that there were "some minor issues" that made it not worth the risk.While Bartonietz is confident in Chopra's abilities, he is cautious about predicting his chances of a medal. "Olympics is a high-stakes and high-pressure situation and anything can happen. Guessing a medal on the basis of statistics is difficult," he said.Bartonietz identified Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, Julian Weber of Germany, Anderson Peters of Grenada, and Oliver Helander of Finland as potential medal contenders.The Olympic Stadium in Paris will have purple-colored Mondo tracks, which are believed to provide faster timings. Bartonietz said that this could benefit Chopra, but it is ultimately a matter of using the speed effectively.