NEW DELHI: In a big setback to India's medal hopes at the CWG, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra was on Tuesday ruled out of the Birmingham Games due to a groin injury, Indian Olympic Association's (IOA) secretary general Rajeev Mehta informed in a statement.
Neeraj had picked up the injury during the recently-concluded World Athletics Championships in USA's Eugene, where he had created history by becoming only the second Indian and first male track and field athlete to win a medal -- a silver -- at the Worlds. In the process, he ended the Indian athletics' 19-year-long wait for a second medal at the Worlds after long jumper Anju Bobby George's bronze in Paris in 2003.
It's been learnt that Neeraj has been advised a month's rest by his biomechanics expert, Dr Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha. "Team India javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had called me earlier today from the US to convey his inability to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games owing to fitness concerns. Following his participation in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Mr. Chopra had an MRI scan done on Monday and, based on it, he has been advised a month's rest by his medical team," Mehta informed.
Earlier, the IOA had put out a tweet, which read: "Our Olympic Champ @Neeraj_chopra1 will not be defending his title at @birminghamcg22 due to concerns regarding his fitness. We wish him a speedy recovery & are supporting him in these challenging times."
On Sunday, at the Worlds, Neeraj had a strapping on his thigh after his medal-winning fourth throw of 88.13m. When asked about it later at the press conference, Neeraj informed: "I thought even the fourth throw could have gone farther. After that, I felt something on my thigh and strapped it. I could not do my best in the next two. I will know the status tomorrow morning because my body is still warm after the event. I hope there should not be any injury issues for the CWG."
