CWG 2022: Minor strain for Neeraj Chopra, major loss for India

In a huge setback for India strong medal contender Neeraj Chopra on Tuesday pulled out of the upcoming Commonwealth Games due to a groin strain he developed during his historic silver medalwinning campaign at the recent World ChampionshipsThe 24yearold Olympic champion was to defend his menrsquos javelin throw title in Birmingham where the Games are set to begin on ThursdayThe development means that Choprarsquos muchanticipated clash with Grenadarsquos World Champion Anderson Peters will not happen nowIOA Secretary General Rajiv Mehta said Chopra underwent an MRI scan on Monday in the USA and has been advised onemonth restldquoTeam India javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had called me earlier today from the US to convey his inability to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games owing to fitness concernrdquo Mehta saidPrecautionary measureldquoFollowing his participation in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene Chopra had an MRI scan done on Monday and based on it he has been advised a monthrsquos rest by his medical teamrdquo Mehta addedAccording to sources close to the athlete itrsquos a minor groin strain but as a precautionary measure he has been asked to take restAlso Read CWG 2022 Boxer Ashish Kumar Chaudhary wants to win gold to compensate for Olympics lossChopra had become only the second Indian athlete to win a medal at World Championship in Eugene on Saturday evening after Anju Bobby George who had won a bronze in long jump in 2003 in ParisAfter his silver medalensuring 8813m throw in the fourth attempt Chopra had felt some unease in his right thigh and his worst fears have come trueldquoI thought even the fourth throw could have gone farther After that I felt something on my thigh and could not do my best in next two I had strapping on thighrdquo Chopra had said after his eventAthletics Federation of India AFI President Adille Sumariwalla said they are in touch with Chopra to assist his recoveryAFI to assist in recoveryldquoNeeraj has said that since he is not 100 per cent fit to compete at the Commonwealth Games he would not be the flag bearer of the Indian contingent at the athletesrsquo parade in the opening ceremonyrdquo Sumariwalla saidIndia teamrsquos chef de mission Rajesh Bhandari told PTI ldquoWe have a meeting later in the day to decide the new flagbearerrdquoThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever