Neeraj Chopra pulls out of Commonwealth Games

Chopra underwent an MRI scan the following day and was subsequently advised one-month rest by the doctors, according to Rajeev Mehta.

Olympic champion and world championship silver medalist Neeraj Chopra has pulled out of the Commonwealth Games, which will begin in Birmingham on Thursday.

Chopra, the defending CWG champion, injured his groin during the World Championship final in Eugene, USA, on Saturday. He underwent an MRI scan the following day and was subsequently advised one-month rest by the doctors, according to Rajeev Mehta, the secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association.

The 24-year-old athlete was set to be India’s flag-bearer during Thursday’s opening ceremony. Mehta said a decision on the new flag-bearer will be taken soon in consultation with other IOA office-bearers.

In Chopra’s absence, it will be up to DP Manu and Rohit Yadav to try and finish on the podium. However, it won’t be easy because of the presence of Peters, the world champion and 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott.

Also in the mix will be Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who finished fifth at the World Championships. Manu has a personal best of 84.35 meters, while Yadav has 82.54m.

Chopra had said after Saturday’s final, where he won the silver medal, that he would be able to gauge the extent of his injury once his body cools down and had hinted he wouldn’t take any risks when it comes to the CWG.

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