NEW DELHI: Shortly after the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 sports competition organisers said that Neeraj Chopra will be absent from the event due to a muscular injury, the Olympic gold winner and javelin thrower clarified that it is only a precautionary measure in an 'Olympic year.'
Neeraj took to Instagarm to clarify his position:
This season, Chopra has participated in the Federation Cup and the Doha Diamond League. Nonetheless, the 26-year-old will be a guest at the esteemed gathering.
"Due to an injury that he sustained in training two weeks ago (adductor muscle) he will not be able to throw in Ostrava, but he will arrive at the event as a guest," the organisers of the competition had said in a statement.
The current Olympic and world champion, Chopra, got off to a great start in 2024, winning silver at the Doha Diamond League on May 10 with a fantastic throw of 88.36 meters.
After nearly three years, he returned to local competition and on May 15, he won gold in the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar with a throw of 82.27 meters, moving DP Manu to second place.
Chopra is one of India's greatest chances to medal in the Olympics in Paris, where he is eager to keep the gold medal he took home from Tokyo.
The organisers stated that they obtained a note from Chopra explaining his decision to withdraw from the competition.
"The organisers did note a message from the Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra."
Julian Weber of Germany, the European champion, will take Chopra's place.
"The best possible replacement was managed by the organisers. European champion Julian Weber from Germany, who threw 88.37 on Friday, the third best performance of the year, will come to Ostrava. It will be a big test for Jakub Vadlejch before the EC in Rome," added the statement.
(With PTI inputs)
