By News18,Siddarth Sriram

Copyright news18

Goodbyes are never easy. But for Neeraj Chopra, watching his former coach stand beside a rival as he faltered was a different kind of test — one he faced with grace.
The Indian javelin star’s extraordinary run of podium finishes came to an end at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he finished eighth with a best throw of 84.03m. It was his first time outside the top three since 2018 and his first finish below second place at an international meet since Tokyo 2020.
Adding a twist to the night, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott claimed gold with a throw of 88.16m — under the guidance of none other than Klaus Bartonietz, Chopra’s long-time coach who had retired in 2024 before returning to mentor Walcott.
Neeraj’s History With Bartonietz
Klaus Bartonietz became Neeraj Chopra’s coach after his split with Uwe Hohn, guiding him to historic success.
Under Bartonietz, Chopra won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, a Diamond League title in 2022, and double gold at the 2023 World Championships and Asian Games. He also claimed silver at Paris 2024 and the 2022 Worlds, cementing his global stature.
However, in 2024, Bartonietz, then 75 years old, opted to retire from coaching in athletics, citing his age and family commitments for his nonavailability.
No Hard Feelings
Despite the sting of defeat, Chopra made it clear there was no bitterness towards Bartonietz.
“It’s a good thing to witness. I had spoken to him earlier (in 2024), and that’s when he told me he wanted to retire for personal reasons. So, it was completely his call,” Chopra told reporters after the final.
“Then, I got to know that he’s coming back and was going to coach Walcott. Of course, it’s his life and his choice. I feel happy for him regardless, because he’s got another gold medal under his belt now.”
Chopra also praised Walcott, who overcame injury setbacks to add a world title to his Olympic crown.
“I have no hard feelings. Everyone works hard, so did Walcott. He was an Olympic champion, and now he’s also a World Champion. That’s amazing for him,” he added.
The Weight of Expectations
Chopra, who admitted he was managing an injury, acknowledged that his performance was below par but stressed that such setbacks are part of an athlete’s journey.
“Before, there were no expectations to meet, so it was easier to perform. But now, javelin has become more of a global sport, and the expectations have risen. But that’s life,” he said.