• Source:PTI
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The hugely successful partnership between star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz of Germany is set to end after five years of working together.

The 75-year-old Bartonietz has cited his age and family commitments to part ways with Chopra.

"He (Bartonietz) is 75 and he now wants to be with his family and does not want too much travel also," an official of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) was quoted by PTI as saying.

"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," he added.

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The 26-year-old Chopra has been working with Bartonietz, who is a biomechanics expert but doubled up as Chopra's coach, since 2019.

The German first came on board as a biomechanical expert and took over as Chopra's coach after Uwe Hohn fell out with the AFI and the Sports Authority of India.

Under Bartonietz, Chopra won the Tokyo Olympics gold, and Paris Games silver, becoming the world champion and Diamond League champion, besides becoming the Asian Games gold medallist. 

Neeraj recently finished second in the Diamond League final.

He had injured himself in practice and X-rays revealed a fracture in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand.

Providing an update on his injury Neeraj stated: “It is fine. The season has now ended, so it will recover well (his injury)."

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After failing to retain his gold medal at the Paris Olympics 2024 to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj already has set his sights on the Los Angeles Games in 2028.

“There is a lot of time in LA28; next year, the World Championship will take place, so I will prepare for it. Slowly, I will prepare for all the competitions,” Neeraj added.