Neeraj’s former coach Bartonietz takes up a new challenge in India

Slow-and-steady: Bartonietz said youngsters need a year for general preparation before starting event-specific training.
| Photo Credit: IIS

Klaus Bartonietz decided to step away from coaching last year after a five-year stint with Neeraj Chopra, but the German biomechanics expert is back in India, in a new role, aiming to guide the next generation of javelin throwers.

Coming on as a consultant with JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sports, Bartonietz held a week-long training camp at its academy in Hisar, working with upcoming talent including the likes of Jyoti — India’s best thrower after Annu Rani at the moment — South Asian under-20 gold medallist Deepika and 18-year old Manpreet Singh, who trained in South Africa earlier this year.

The searing heat in the region has been a non-issue for the 76-year-old. “It is good, the heat, cold is not good for training,” he quipped.

“I’m retired as a full-time, responsible coach. I need more time for family in Germany, daughter with grandchildren in Australia. But I asked Manisha Malhotra, and she had the idea to bring me in to support the coaches and athletes here in Hisar, where they are building a centre for throwers,” Bartonietz said in an exclusive interaction with The Hindu on Wednesday.

The plan

He explained that the plan was to visit several times a year, for seven to 10 days, holding short camps and tracking athletes’ progress. “It was for a week now, maybe next time in July for two weeks.

“I will also be going around the village of Bangaon, where the javelin throwers are living in the Javelin Academy. I was critical, but it’s a school with a really strong javelin centre, amazing talent. And they train hard,” Bartonietz added.

The Bangaon academy in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, started and run by coach Hanuman Singh, has the distinction of holding the National record in women’s javelin in every age group except the senior level.

Bartonietz also insisted that while the hype after Neeraj’s Olympic gold saw interest spiking in javelin throw, a well-defined plan was essential to convert the potential into results in the long term.

Relearning counterproductive

“It needs proper learning, a proper programme from the grassroots starting with kids, latest by 10-12 years, throwing javelins and learning to throw properly so that relearning is not necessary. Re-learning any technique is very counterproductive; it takes time and, in most cases, does not happen. Then they are not using their full potential and are prone to injuries.

“What we also don’t want is rushing into success. The athletes, coaches, administration, and everyone is asking for medals and results everywhere in the world. You need to give them time to develop – these kids need a year for general preparation before they can start into event-specific training,” he explained.

And yes, he did congratulate Neeraj after his recent 90m throw at the Doha Diamond League and was visibly proud of his ward. “I was in flight during the competition, and then we got busy here, but I saw it later and messaged him. Nothing special, just congratulations, now that the mark is breached, keep going.

“I felt proud for Neeraj that he finally did it. And being sure that it’s not the only one. Some athletes do it only once in life, then struggle all the time. But for him, this is just a stop on the way to bigger things, it’s the beginning of the season. We have to plan to meet when he is in Europe… let’s see,” he signed off.