May 26th 2024.
Indian Olympic javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra clarified on Sunday that he was not injured, but had decided to withdraw from the upcoming Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on May 28 as a precautionary measure. Chopra, who recently experienced some discomfort in his adductor muscles during a training session, didn't want to take any risks with his health in an Olympic year and therefore opted out of the prestigious event.
In a statement posted on his Instagram, Chopra explained his decision, stating that he had felt some discomfort in his adductor after a recent training session. Having had problems with it in the past, he didn't want to push it too hard and risk an injury that could jeopardize his chances at the Olympics. He assured his fans that he was not currently injured and that once he felt fully recovered, he would resume competing.
The 26-year-old's announcement came shortly after the Golden Spike meet organizers stated that he would not be participating due to an injury sustained in training two weeks ago. However, they also mentioned that Chopra would still be attending the event as a guest.
This would have been Chopra's first time competing in the Golden Spike meet, which is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level event. The competition boasts a star-studded lineup, with the likes of Olympic silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic and former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada set to participate.
So far this season, Chopra has competed in two events - the Doha Diamond League and the Federation Cup. He kicked off the season with a silver medal in Doha on May 10, throwing an impressive 88.36 meters. He then went on to win gold at the Federation Cup on May 15, with a throw of 82.27 meters, beating out DP Manu for the top spot.
Initially, the Golden Spike meet was not part of Chopra's competition schedule. However, during the Doha Diamond League, he had announced that he would be competing in the event. He had also previously stated that he would be participating in the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June 18.
Chopra, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, is considered one of India's best medal hopes for the upcoming Paris Olympics. The organizers of the Golden Spike meet confirmed that they had received a message from Chopra informing them of his withdrawal.
As a replacement for Chopra, European champion Julian Weber of Germany has been chosen. Weber, who threw 88.37 meters on Friday, will provide a tough challenge for Jakub Vadlejch before the European Championships in Rome. The organizers expressed their satisfaction with the replacement, stating that they were able to secure the best possible replacement for Chopra.
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