Golden boy of India, Neeraj Chopra, has begun a new chapter in his career with the launch of his own athlete management firm, Vel Sports.
On Monday, Chopra and JSW Sports jointly announced the conclusion of their long-standing formal partnership. The association began in 2016 under the JSW Sports Excellence Program (SEP) and played a pivotal role in Chopra’s rise as one of India’s greatest track and field athletes.
During the partnership, Chopra achieved several historic milestones, including India’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in track and field at the Tokyo 2020 Games, a World Championship gold in 2023, and an Olympic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games, along with multiple podium finishes in competitions.
As Chopra continues his recovery from the back injury sustained in September last year, the javelin thrower has now turned his focus toward his entrepreneurial ambitions with the launch of Vel Sports.
CEO of JSW Sports, Divyanshu Singh, praised Chopra’s journey and achievements.
“Working with Neeraj has been an incredible experience for all of us at JSW Sports. His success story reflects our shared philosophy of excellence and purpose. We’re immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together and wish him continued success in all his future pursuits,” Singh said.
Chopra also expressed gratitude for JSW Sports’ role in shaping his career.
“Over the last decade, our journey together has been one of growth, belief, and achievement. JSW Sports has played a defining role in my career, and I’ll always remain grateful for their support and vision. As we conclude this chapter, I carry forward the same values into the next phase of my journey,” Chopra said.
Earlier, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the qualification criteria for the upcoming Asian Games, making it mandatory for athletes to compete in a minimum of three events, one representing their respective state and two national-level competitions.
Chopra, however, has been granted an exemption from domestic competitions to allow him adequate time to recover from injury and prepare for the Asian Games.
Explaining the rationale behind the selection policy, AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla stressed the importance of consistency.
“People qualify in January and then do nothing before the Asian Games, and when they go there, they don’t perform. We want to see whether an athlete is improving or declining. One good day is not enough at this level,” Sumariwalla stated.
“We are not foolish enough to restrict our athletes. Neeraj Chopra is only one Neeraj. But for everyone else, the same rules apply,” he added.