10th June 2023, Mumbai: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has announced his withdrawal from the upcoming Paavo Nurmi Games 2023, scheduled for June 13 in Finland. This prestigious athletics meet, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, has been a significant event on the international athletics calendar since its inception in 1957. Neeraj’s absence comes as a disappointment to fans, as he had clinched a silver medal at the Finland meet last year, setting a national record with a throw of 89.30m.
Neeraj Chopra has been plagued by injury concerns, causing disruptions to his competition schedule. Last month, he shared that he would skip the FBK Games in the Netherlands due to a muscle strain sustained during training. This setback came after a prolonged absence from major competitions, following his victory at the Diamond League 2022 finals in Eugene, where he triumphed in September last year.
Despite his injury-induced hiatus, Neeraj made a triumphant return to the field at the Doha Diamond League on May 5 this year. Showcasing his prowess, he claimed first place with a remarkable throw of 88.67m at the Qatar Sports Club. This victory reignited hopes of witnessing his exceptional talent on display at upcoming events.
In addition to pulling out of the Paavo Nurmi Games, the 25-year-old athlete has also decided to skip the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2023. Neeraj’s next scheduled tournament is the Golden Spike Ostrava in the Czech Republic on June 27, where he aims to showcase his skills once again. Fans eagerly anticipate his participation in the highly anticipated World Athletics Championships in August and the Asian Games in September.
Notably, Neeraj Chopra’s withdrawal from the Paavo Nurmi Games means that his rivalry with former world champion Johannes Vetter of Germany will have to wait. The two athletes last faced each other at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and fans were excited about their potential clash at the Finnish meet. Unfortunately, both athletes have opted out, leaving fans eager for their next encounter on the athletics stage.
Article by PRITESH PATEL