Neeraj Chopra Injured Ahead of Olympics, Will Miss Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 Athletics Meet – Firstpost

Neeraj Chopra will not participate in the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 athletics competition in the Czech Republic on May 28 as scheduled earlier due to injury. The news of Chopra’s withdrawal was confirmed by the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold label, organizer of the Ostrava Golden Spike, on its website.

According to the information shared, the reigning Olympic and world champion, Neeraj Chopra, suffered an adductor injury during training two weeks ago and, as a result, “he will not be able to throw in Ostrava, but he will manage to the event as a guest”. .”

Organizers have now recruited European champion Julian Weber of Germany, who fired 88.37 on Friday, the third best performance of the year, to replace Neeraj.

The 26-year-old Indian’s last competitive performance came at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on May 15. He had won the gold medal with a throw of 82.27m in hot and humid conditions in the Odisha capital.

“I was training in Turkey so it was after a long time that I competed in such weather conditions but we are Indians, we can control all the conditions. However, I didn’t enjoy the competition as much as we do in other conditions and once I realized that the condition of the body was not good, after four attempts I thought that it ‘was enough,’ Neeraj had said after winning the gold medal.

He opened the 2024 season with the Doha Diamond League on May 11 where he recorded a best throw of 88.36m to reach second place.

The next event for the Indian javelin star will be the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June 18.