'Golden Boy' Neeraj can sometimes get silver too, he is human after all: Sumariwalla
Athletics Federation of India official Adille Sumariwalla defends Neeraj Chopra following his silver medal win at the Commonwealth Games. He emphasizes that Chopra's consistency and health should be prioritized over constant gold-medal expectations.
Why it matters
Addresses the pressure placed on elite athletes and the importance of managing long-term health and career longevity.
Brushing aside recent concerns around Neeraj Chopra's fitness and form, Athletics Federation of India's selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla has said that the "country's greatest athlete" does not deserve to be scrutinised for an occasional silver after consistently delivering gold for the past one decade.
The two-time Olympic medal-winning javelin thrower, who has been troubled by a lower back injury for nearly a year, produced a season's best effort of 86.48m to win silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month. He had collected a gold at the same event in 2018 before being forced to miss the 2022 edition due to injury.
Sumariwalla said Chopra's extraordinary consistency on the global stage since creating the still-standing junior world record of 86.48m in 2016, ought to be celebrated.
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