Fresh from his silver winning campaign at Athletics World Championship in Oregon, Neeraj Chopra looked in top form going into the Birmingham Commonwealth Games but an injury will ousted him from the multi sport event. That means the reigning Olympic and Asian champion will not be defending his Commonwealth Games title this year which opens door for other Indians in fray- DP Manu and Rohit Yadav.
“Team India javelin thrower Mr. Neeraj Chopra 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,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta said.
Neeraj Chopra has been amongst the medals in whatever he has competed this season but the injury does not mean the end of season for the Haryana lad. If he undergoes his rehabilitation proceeds smoothly he may compete in the Diamond League Finals in Zurich from September 6.
Will India win a medal at CWG in Javelin
In a strong competition, India will have bleak chances of a podium finish at Commonwealth Games, given that world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada is not talking below 90m and he is expected to take the gold medal. 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago had a mammoth throw of over 89 this season and he is expected to be in the line for a silver medal. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem produced a mammoth throw of 86.16 in the recently concluded world championship and he is expected to win a bronze. DP Manu of India had a throw of 84.35 which is way too below to be amongst the medals, he has to surpass his career best mark and expect others to fumble on the day of competition. Other Indian in the fray will be Rohit Yadav who has a career best throw of 82.54. The two Indians need to surpass their career best mark to be amongst the medals.
