The Indian contingent for the upcoming Commonwealth Games received a grand send-off. However, some players who have been attending some other ongoing competition, are supposed to reach Birmingham for the CWG directly. A massive shock for India as Neeraj Chopra, one of the most promising athletes, has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games. Due to an injury, the golden boy will miss this edition. Check out the 10 Indian athletes missing the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022.
10 Indian athletes missing the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022
1. Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra who won gold at Tokyo Olympics, last year became an instant hero. However, his first competitive appearance after the Olympics came around 10 months later. At the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland, he earned a silver breaking his own national record. Later, within 15 days he again broke the record at the Stockholm Diamond League by registering a throw of 89.94m. He again stood second, finishing in the Top 3 for the first time in his career. As the 24-year-old looked promising winning another Silver at World Athletics Championships in Oregon, India had high expectations from him for the CWG.
However, in a big blow, he has been ruled out of the Commonwealth Games because of an injury. Reportedly, he won the Silver at Oregon dealing with the injury. This is a great loss for India as Chopra was nearing the 90-meter mark.
2. Mary Kom
Indian veteran boxing champion Mary Kom is another big name missing the event. During trials, she sustained a knee injury and was forced to withdraw from the CWG 2022. The 6-time world champion was a big hope for India. In New Delhi on Friday, playing the semi-finals for the 48-kg category, against Nitu from Haryana, she twisted her knee. This blocked her path to the Commonwealth.
3. Saina Nehwal
Nehwal has chosen to not appear in the selection trials for the upcoming games. The two-time CWG gold-medallist skipped the trials which were made mandatory for selection to the multi-sport event by the Badminton Authority of India (BAI) for players who are not ranked in the Top 15. Therefore, Saina Nehwal cannot be considered for selection.
4. Rani Rampal
Padma Shri Indian hockey team’s current captain, Rani Rampal is another Indian genius who will miss the commonwealth due to injury. The star striker was unable to regain full fitness after a hamstring injury. Therefore, she wasn’t named on the Indian women’s hockey team squad for the multi-sport event. In her absence, goal-keeper Savita Punia will lead the Indian side.
5. Vikas Krishan Yadav
Krishan was a gold medalist at the 2018 CWG. He has also qualified for the Olympics thrice. However, his inability to attend the boxing trials held earlier this year withdrew him from the selections. Therefore, he will not be participating in the mega event.
6. Tajinderpal Singh Toor
The Asian record holder shot put thrower, Tajinderpal Singh Toor will also miss the Commonwealth Games 2022. Recently, at World Athletics Championship in Eugene, he sustained a groin injury, which makes the 27-year-old miss the Birmingham Games.
“It’s a hard time for me. I had pulled my groin muscle four days ago while at Chula Vista and it greatly affected my performance. I will do rehab, work hard and come back stronger in future competitions,”
Tajinderpal Singh Toor
7. S Dhanalaxmi
Sprinter Dhanalaxmi failed to clear the dope test and therefore was out of the selection arena for the Birmingham games. She failed the two out-of-competition tests conducted by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), World Athletics, and National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) in May and June respectively. An anabolic steroid was found in her samples.
8. Aishwarya Babu
Aishwarya is another athlete missing the CWG 2022 due to positive dope tests. She tested positive for two in-competition tests for Ostarine, a banned substance. The national record holder for the triple jump was tested twice in June during the National Inter-State Championships in Chennai. Originally named on the Indian contingent, Aishwarya and Dhanalxmi both have been provisionally suspended.
9. Kamalpreet Kaur
Kamalpreet Kaur too will miss the CWG 2022 because of Stanozolol, an anabolic, banned steroid found in a dope test. Her performances at the Tokyo Olympics were highly acclaimed. Moreover, Athletics Integrity Unit announced, “has provisionally suspended discus thrower Kamalpreet Kaur of India for the Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Stanozolol), a breach of the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules.”
10. Shikha Pandey
Shikha Pandey who drew comparisons with the legend Shane Warne delivering a brilliant in-swinger is not named as a part of the CWG 2022 Women’s cricket squad. She was abruptly dropped from the WC squad earlier this year. A young, somewhat inexperienced squad has been named for Birmingham.
Also read: Top 10 Richest People in the World in 2022
