Indian Olympic Gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has clarified himself for skipping the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 athletics meet in Czechia starting May 28. The organisers of the Ostrava meet earlier suggested that the 26-year-old had to withdraw due to a muscular injury but the ace javelin thrower has clarified saying that the pull-out is precautionary, keeping the Paris Olympics 2024 in mind.
Chopra in his clarification on Sunday, May 26 said that he felt something in his adductor during training and didn't want to push it given the Olympic Games are coming up a couple of months later.
"Hello everyone! Following a recent throwing session, I decided not to compete in Ostrava as I felt something in my adductor. I have had problems with it in the past and pushing it at this stage can lead to injury. Just to clarify, I am not injured but I don't want to take any risk during the Olympic year so had to take this decision. Once I feel it's fully recovered, I will get back to competitions. Thank you for your support," Chopra wrote on his Instagram story.
Neeraj Chopra statement on Instagram story
Chopra may not be participating in the event, he will be there as a guest. The Indian athlete has been replaced by Julian Weber in the competition as he will be in the mix alongside the local favourite Jakub Vadlejch, the defending champion at the Diamond League and Golden Spike Meet alongside Grenada's Anderson Peters.
Chopra recently finished 0.02 meters behind Vadlejch in the Diamond League Doha meet and secured the second place and the Czech international will be looking to continue his reign at the top in his toughest competitor's absence. Chopra missed the Ostrava meet last year too due to a muscle injury. Before the Olympics, Chopra will participate in the Paavo Nurumi Games in Finland on June 18 having clinched Gold at the Federationa Cup at home earlier this month.
