Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and his long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz of Germany are set to end their successful partnership 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) said.
"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.
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 gold at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the Paris Games, became world champion and Diamond League champion, and was a gold medallist at the Asian Games.
Follow us
