Neeraj Chopra Says He Didn't Withdraw From Paris Diamond League 2024

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Defending champion at the men's javelin throw, Olympian Neeraj Chopra, has issued a clarification, stating that he has not withdrawn from the Paris Diamond League meet.

Reports in certain sections of the media had been circulating, claiming that the world champion had withdrawn from the Paris Diamond League meet.

The athlete clarified the same on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, when he said that the Paris Diamond League was not a part of his competition calendar this season. Therefore, he has not withdrawn himself from the event.

Taking to social media, he put out a tweet on his official X account.

"Just to clarify: The Paris Diamond League wasn't part of my competition calendar this season, so I haven't 'withdrawn' from it. I'm focusing on getting ready for the Olympic Games," Neeraj Chopra tweeted on Wednesday.

"Thanks for your understanding and support, and wishing all the athletes competing all the best!" Neeraj Chopra added.

That said, Neeraj Chopra will not be a part of the action. However, the Paris Diamond League meet will still have Indian representation with Kishore Kumar Jena participating in the men's javelin throw event. It will also be lit up with the participation of Pakistan's javelin thrower, Arshad Nadeem. This will be Arshad Nadeem's first event of the year as well.

Neeraj took part in the men's javelin throw during the Diamond League athletics meet at the Qatar Sports Club stadium in Doha in May earlier this year.

Neeraj Chopra will be keen to defend his Olympic gold

With the Paris 2024 Olympics less than a month away, Neeraj Chopra will be among the center of attraction. He bagged the gold medal at the pandemic-affected Tokyo Olympics in 2021. With rifle shooter Abhinav Bindra winning the gold in Beijing in 2008, no other individual athlete has ever won more than one gold medal in India's Olympic history.

Neeraj is expected to defend his Tokyo gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Other significant names, such as shuttler PV Sindhu (one silver and one bronze) and wrestler Sushil Kumar (one silver and one bronze), have bagged two medals at two different Olympic editions. However, none of these medals have been gold.