Neeraj Chopra, who recently won a silver medal in Athletics Championship and was recognized as the second Indian and the first male track athlete, has missed a golden opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth Games 2022 due to an injury. The tournament has begun today and will be held up to August 8th.
Rajeev Mehta, the Secretary General of IOA said, “Neeraj Chopra had called me earlier today from the United States to convey his inability to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games due to fitness ailments. Following the Team India Javelin thrower’s participation in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Neeraj had an MRI scan done on Monday and, based on it, he has been suggested a month’s rest by his doctors.”
In 2016, Neeraj Chopra achieved a world under-20 record throw of 86.48 m, becoming the first India athlete to set a world record. He won the Gold medal on 7th August 2021 with a throw of 87.58m in his second attempt. He is the youngest-ever Indian Olympic gold medalist in an individual event and the only one to have won gold in his Olympic debut.