Golden arm, new aim as Neeraj Chopra parts ways with JSW Sports

MUMBAI: Every great throw has a follow-through. India’s javelin icon Neeraj Chopra and JSW Sports have formally ended their decade-long partnership, closing one of Indian sport’s most successful athlete–management chapters as Chopra steps into entrepreneurship with the launch of Vel Sports.

The association began in 2016, when Chopra was first identified through the JSW Sports Excellence Programme, a scouting moment that proved pivotal for both athlete and organisation. What followed was a ten-year journey marked by consistent global success and careful long-term athlete development, setting new benchmarks for Indian athletics.

Chopra’s rise rewrote history books. Nicknamed the ‘Man with the Golden Arm’, he became India’s first-ever Olympic gold medallist in track and field at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He went on to clinch the World Athletics Championship gold in 2023 and added an Olympic silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, alongside multiple podium finishes on the international circuit.

Unlike the traditional post-retirement pivot to business, Chopra has chosen to launch Vel Sports while still in his competitive prime. The move signals a shift from being managed to shaping athlete careers himself, with JSW Sports backing his transition and supporting the final leg of this evolution.

JSW Sports CEO Divyanshu Singh said the partnership reflected a shared philosophy of excellence and purpose, adding that the organisation was proud of the journey and Chopra’s decision to chart his own path. Chopra echoed the sentiment, crediting JSW Sports for playing a defining role in his career and carrying forward the same values into his next chapter.

As the two part ways, the tone is one of mutual respect rather than separation. JSW Sports continues its focus on nurturing India’s next generation of sporting talent, while Chopra’s Vel Sports marks a new ambition extending his impact beyond the runway and into the business of sport.

The javelin may still fly far, but for Neeraj Chopra, the next target is clearly off the field.