Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the competition owing to injury. Which will be a big setback for India’s prospects ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. According to sources, he just sustained a groin injury while competing at the World Athletics Championship in Oregon.
This is a significant drawback for the Indian team travelling to Birmingham because Chopra was their best medal prospect. With a throw of 88.13 metres, he recently won a record silver medal at the World Athletics Championships.
What Rajeev Mehta has to say on Neeraj Chopra exit?
After his 88.13m throw, which won him the silver medal in the men’s javelin final on Sunday, Neeraj had complained of groin pain. The current Olympic champion has been recommend to take a month off from competition, according to IOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta.
“Neeraj Chopra will not take part in Commonwealth Games2022. He is not fit as he got injured in the finals of World Athletic Championship. He informed us about this,”
“Following his participation in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Mr. Chopra had had an MRI scan done on Monday and, based on it, he has been advised a month’s rest by his medical team.”
Neeraj Chopra was anticipated to carry the Indian flag at the Games, which begins on Thursday.
India’s Chief de mission Rajesh Bhandari stated, “We have a meeting later in the day to decide the new flag-bearer.”
What Neeraj Chopra’s exit will mean to the Medal Tally?
Since then, Neeraj has continually broken records. He won India’s first track and field gold medal as an independent nation at the 2020 Tokyo Games. The javelin thrower, who was born in Haryana, then twice beat his own national record, first with an 89.30m throw at the Paavo Nurmi games and then with an 89.94m throw at the Diamond League in Stockholm, nearly a year after making a comeback to professional competition.
As a result, the 24-year-old became the first male athlete to win a medal at the Athletics World Championships and India’s second medallist at the event after the illustrious Anju Bobby George.
This means that Team India will suffer a lack of a confirmed medal winner.
Also read: Neeraj Chopra wins silver at World Athletics Championships in Oregon: becomes 2nd Indian
