Olympic gold-medallist and javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has withdrawn from the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 due to a muscle injury sustained during training.

The event, scheduled to take place in the Czech Republic on May 28, will miss the presence of the Indian sports icon who has decided to prioritize his health during this crucial Olympic year.

Neeraj Chopra, who hails from Haryana, recently participated in the 27th National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Bhubaneswar, where he clinched the gold medal in the men's javelin throw event on May 15, 2024. He follows through after a throw in Bhubaneswar in the image taken by PTI Photographer Gurinder Osan.

On May 26, Chopra took to social media platform X to announce his decision. "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," he wrote.

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Chopra clarified that he is not currently injured but is taking preventive measures. "Just to clarify, I am not injured but I don't want to take any risk during the Olympic year so had to take the decision. Once I feel it's fully recovered, I will get back to competitions. Thank you for your support," he added.

Despite his withdrawal, the organizers confirmed that Chopra will attend the event as a guest. "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," they said in a statement.

The Ostrava Golden Spike 2024, a key athletics meet, will feature European champion Julian Weber from Germany, who recently achieved the third-best performance of the year with a throw of 88.37 meters. This replacement promises to keep the competition intense.

This season, Chopra has competed in two major events: the Doha Diamond League and the Federation Cup. He began his year on a high note with a silver medal at the Doha Diamond League on May 10, 2024, with a remarkable throw of 88.36 meters.

Following this, he secured a gold medal at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar on May 15, 2024, with a throw of 82.27 meters, pushing DP Manu to the second spot.

India has high hopes for Neeraj Chopra as he gears up for the Paris Olympic Games, aiming to retain his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics. With his strategic decision to rest and recover fully, Chopra is set to maintain his top form for the upcoming competitions and the Olympics.

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