Neeraj Chopra suffering from high fever, unable to attend Haryana felicitation ceremony; Vinesh Phogat skips event

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 13

Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra was unable to join the Haryana government’s felicitation ceremony due to high fever.

Also read: Neeraj Chopra suffering from high fever, tests Covid negative

He joined the ceremony online from his home in Khandra, Panipat. In his message, he urged the government to keep supporting athletes.

• Also read: Punjab Government honours Olympics heroes with cash awards; Neeraj Chopra skips event

Wrestler Bajrang Punia was present at the function. Haryana Chief Minsiter Manohar Lal Khattar too could not attend the function due to bereavement in the family as his younger brother Gulshan Khattar past away due to an illness on Friday.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat, tennis player Sumit Nagal, shooter Manu Bhaker and boxers Amit Panghal, Vikas Krishan and Manish Kaushik, discus thrower Seema Poonia, who could not perform upto their expectations in the Tokyo Olympics, did not attend the function.

Manu Bhaker said she could not join the function due to ”unavoidable circumstances”. Their family members, however, collected the cheques worth lakhs and gift hampers on the stage.

The ceremony was marred by the absence of many of the awardees despite government showering cash awards, jobs, gift hampers. Only Neeraj Chopra disclosed the exact reason for his absence.

One of the two hockey men’s team player Sumit Kumar too was not present. Left embarrassed with the several absences, the Haryana government officials said the awards will be delivered at the athletes home. Vinesh Phogat’s brother had attended on her behalf.

 The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has temporarily suspended star grappler Vinesh Phogat from all wrestling activities for ‘gross indiscipline’ during the Tokyo Olympic Games. Vinesh, who lost in the quarterfinals of the 53kg freestyle category in Tokyo, has been issued a notice in this matter and has been given time until August 16 to reply.