Injury Forces Neeraj Chopra to Skip Paavo Nurmi Games 2023

New Delhi: Indian star javelinist Neeraj Chopra has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the highly anticipated Paavo Nurmi Games 2023 due to injury.

The prestigious Finnish athletics meet, held annually in Turku since 1957, is recognized as a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event. Neeraj Chopra had previously achieved remarkable success at the Finland meet, securing a silver medal last year with a national record throw of 89.30m. However, setbacks including a recent muscle strain during training forced him to skip both the FBK Games in the Netherlands and the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2023.

Neeraj Chopra’s absence from the Paavo Nurmi Games comes after a previous injury hiatus of nearly eight months. Following his victory at the Diamond League 2022 finals in Eugene last September, he faced a long recovery period. However, he made a triumphant comeback at the Doha Diamond League on May 5 of this year, capturing first place with an impressive throw of 88.67m at the esteemed Qatar Sports Club.

While fans eagerly anticipated the rekindling of the rivalry between Neeraj Chopra and former world champion Johannes Vetter of Germany, both athletes have withdrawn from the Finnish meet. Their last encounter took place at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where they showcased their exceptional javelin-throwing skills. Despite their absence from the Paavo Nurmi Games, sports enthusiasts can look forward to witnessing their future performances.

Neeraj Chopra’s focus now shifts to his upcoming appearance at the Golden Spike Ostrava in the Czech Republic on June 27. This event serves as a crucial stepping stone for the talented 25-year-old athlete, leading up to his participation in the highly anticipated World Athletics Championships in August and the Asian Games in September. As Neeraj Chopra continues to recover and train, fans eagerly await his return to the competitive arena, where he will undoubtedly dazzle spectators with his extraordinary talent and skill.