Neeraj Chopra delivers a statement following his withdrawal from CWG 2022: I'm disappointed that I can't defend my title.

The 90-meter mark will be Neeraj Chopra's next obstacle to overcome. Chopra's previous performances imply that he will eventually join the elite group.

Neeraj Chopra after winning silver medal at World Championship(PC:TOI)

HIGHLIGHTS

• It was announced on Tuesday that Chopra will not compete at the Commonwealth Games.
• The 24-year-old was hurt during the World Athletics Championships in the groyne.
• It was planned for Chopra to carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony.

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has sent out a statement in which he expresses his disappointment at not being able to successfully defend his title in the next Commonwealth Games in 2022.

On Tuesday, it was announced that Chopra, 24, would not be competing in the next competition owing to an injury. The 24-year-old was also scheduled to carry the Indian flag at the CWG's opening ceremony.

The Indian athlete clarified why he won't be attending the Birmingham event in a detailed statement posted on Twitter. He also identified the exact moment when the injury occurred.

The 24-year-old said that after his fourth throw at the World Championships, he felt a pull in his groyne. However, after additional testing in the US, it was discovered that he had only had a slight strain.

PC:India Today

Chopra claimed that following more conversations with his support team, the Indian Olympic Association, the Athletics Federation of India, and the Sports Authority of India, it was concluded that skipping the CWG would be preferable in order to prevent an injury from worsening.

The Olympic gold medalist continued by expressing his disappointment at missing out on the opportunity to carry the Indian flag at the opening ceremony as well as his hurt at not being able to defend his title during the competition.

Chopra continued by thanking the entire nation for their support and announcing that he will be concentrating on his recuperation. He continued by pleading with his supporters to support his fellow Indian competitors at the games.

"Greetings to all. I'm really sorry to have to let you know that I won't be able to compete for my nation at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. After experiencing a strain in my groin on my fourth throw at the World Championships, I had been uneasy. It was examined medically by a team of doctors yesterday in the US, and after a slight strain was found, I was told to undertake rehabilitation and rest it for the next two weeks."

"I've discussed this with my support team, the IOA, AFI, and SAI's CAIMS, and we've all agreed that it would be best for me to forego the CWG in order to prevent any further deterioration of the injury while keeping in mind my long-term ambitions. Naturally, I'm disappointed that I won't be able to defend my title and that I won't have another chance to represent the country. I was looking forward to having the honour of carrying Team India's flag at the opening ceremony, therefore I am very disappointed about missing out on that opportunity."

I'll concentrate on getting better for the time being, and I anticipate returning to work fairly soon. I want to express my gratitude to the entire nation for the affection and support I have received over the last few days, and I also want to ask everyone to join me in supporting the athletes on Team India in Birmingham in the upcoming weeks.

Neeraj Chopra lifts the benchmark for Indian competitors by winning a medal at the World Championship in Eugene.

Neeraj Chopra along with other medalists at World Championship(PC:Firstpost)

The distinctive shout from Neeraj Chopra is a dead giveaway that his throw is good or bad before anyone else. In Eugene, Oregon, on a Saturday night, the Chopra clamour was absent. The Olympic champion produced a tremendous throw and vaulted into medal position under duress despite trailing at halftime of a major final for the first time in his still-early career. The best-ever effort by an Indian in the athletics World Championship, his 88.13-meter effort was ultimately enough to win a silver medal.

The medal served as a reminder that Chopra is an aberration in Indian track and field, where it is all too common to witness athletes falter on a huge stage. On the other hand, every time Chopra participates, he consistently demonstrates new aspects of his game. The self-taught athlete provided a glimpse into his self-assurance and athletic prowess in 2016 when he won the junior world title. His minimalist approach and bravado, which allowed him to destroy the field with just a few tosses, stood out in Tokyo. And in Eugene, he demonstrated that he had what it took to perform when challenged.

Neeraj Chopra with his throw at World Championship(PC:The Bridge)

Critics of Chopra will claim that he did not win the gold. But that's also part of sports' allure and unpredictability. Anderson Peters of Grenada was unable to advance to the Olympics final. To defend his world championship, he came back stronger and recorded three throws of 90 or more. To cross the prestigious 90-meter threshold will be Chopra's next challenge. Recent performances by Chopra indicate that it won't be long before he enters the elite group. Chopra will continue to rise — and roar — despite his soaring fame and the ensuing distractions.