May 26, 2024 – Olympic gold-medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has opted out of the Ostrava Golden Spike 2024, citing a muscle injury sustained during a training session two weeks ago. In a message shared on X, Chopra explained 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 clarified that he is not currently injured but wants to avoid any risk during the Olympic year, promising to return to competition once fully recovered.
The Ostrava Golden Spike 2024 athletics meet is scheduled to take place in the Czech Republic on May 28. Despite his withdrawal, the competition organisers confirmed that Chopra will still attend the event as a guest. In a statement, they noted, “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 also announced a notable replacement for Chopra, European champion Julian Weber from Germany, who recently achieved the third best performance of the year with a throw of 88.37 metres. This will provide a significant challenge for local favorite Jakub Vadlejch ahead of the European Championships in Rome.
Chopra started his season on a strong note, securing a silver medal with a throw of 88.36 metres at the Doha Diamond League on May 10. He continued his success by winning a gold medal at the Federation Cup on May 15 with a throw of 82.27 metres, outclassing DP Manu who finished second.
As Chopra prepares for the Paris Olympic Games, where he aims to defend his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics, India continues to hold high hopes for his performance on the world stage.
