Chandigarh: Olympics gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday did not take part in the felicitation ceremony organized by the Haryana government due to high fever.
He, however, joined the ceremony online from his home in Khandra, Panipat and appealed the government to keep supporting athletes.
Haryana Chief Minsiter Manohar Lal Khattar 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.
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.
Meanwhile, 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.