Why is Tajinderpal Singh Toor not competing at the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships 2024?
Indian shot put athlete Tajinderpal Singh Toor opted not to compete at the Inter-State Athletics Championships 2024, scheduled to start on Thursday, June 27, due to ankle pain. His doctor has stated that the athlete will be out of action for at least three weeks.
A two-time Asian Games gold medalist and Asian champion, Tajinderpal has been facing fitness challenges in the past few years. After the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, he went under the knife on the left wrist of his throwing arm.
Later, he suffered a groin injury while bagging the gold medal at the Asian Championships in July 2023 in Bangkok. Additionally, he was subsequently ruled out of the Budapest World Championships with a groin injury.
It’s important to note that the National Inter-State Athletics will be the final qualifying competition for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 for Indian athletes. The four-day event will end on Sunday, June 30, in Panchkula, Haryana.
"I am currently having slight ankle pain and my doctor told me not to throw for three weeks," Toor told PTI.
Tajinderpal Singh is still in contention for Paris Olympics 2024
Last month, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) president Adille Sumariwalla conveyed that it will be mandatory for all Indian athletes to take part in the National Inter-State Championships in the run-up to the Paris Olympics 2024.
However, the reigning Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been given an exception by the AFI president.
Despite Tajinderpal not participating at the Athletics Meet in Panchkula, it will not impact his Paris 2024 qualification as his superior ranking in the Road to Paris will allow him to qualify for the forthcoming Paris 2024.
The Tokyo Olympian Tajinder previously held the Asian record with a throw of 21.77 meters, achieved at the 2023 Nationals in Bhubaneswar. His record was recently surpassed by Saudi Arabia's Mohamed Daouda Tolo with a distance of 21.80 meters in June.
Tajinder was born and raised in a family of farmers in the Khosa Pando village in Punjab. His love and passion for the sport came from his father Karam Singh and uncle Gurdev Singh.