Indian Olympic Association's IOA's) command notwithstanding, champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra's participation in the 2022 National Games looks far-fetched, having come off a groin injury along with a gruelling season. Olympic gold medallist Chopra accomplished a historic feat on Thursday, becoming the first Indian to win the prestigious Diamond League Finals title in Zurich. As a result, he signed off the international season on a compelling note. On Friday, he was questioned on whether he would compete at the National Games being held in Gujarat from September 29 to October 12.
"The National Games are approaching. I am just returning from a groin injury, and I may not be able to train for one or two weeks. So I am primarily focussed on next year," Chopra was quoted as saying to the reporters. Moreover, with the IOA mandating the country's top athletes to participate in the Games, many athletes might have to rearrange their training programs.
The IOA command arrived after Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) launched the mascot and the anthem for the Games. In contrast, Anurag Thakur (Union Sports Minister) established that the Games would be the "biggest and grandest" ever. The National Games is happening after seven years. The groin problem had forced Chopra to miss out on the Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Birmingham in July-August, following the World Championships in the United States of America (USA), having won the silver medal.
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