Neeraj Chopra has to pay for his coach in CWG; Jadumani nods

Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo) NEW DELHI: Neeraj Chopra coach Jaiveer Chaudhary’s name is missing from the final Indian contingent list for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as the team received administrative and financial approval from the sports ministry, TOI has learnt. The omission means Chopra is likely to compete without her coach at the Games, which are scheduled from July 23 to August 2. If Chaudhary does travel, he will do so personally at Chopra’s expense and stay outside the designated team hotel.Chopra reunited with Chaudhary, his childhood coach, in January 2026 after ending his association with world record holder Jan Železny. Chopra’s long-time physiotherapist Ishaan Marwaha was included in the government-sanctioned contingent.The 42-member athletics contingent consists of 32 athletes, eight coaches and support staff, and two other team officials (ETOs). Chopra was initially uncertain for the Games due to injury concerns.Long jumper M Sreeshankar’s coach and father S Murali, a former international triple jumper who guided the national record holder throughout his career, is also omitted from the approved list. If he travels to Glasgow, Murali will do so privately at his own expense.In boxing, the ministry cleared Jadumani Singh’s inclusion in the men’s 55kg category after initially asking the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to explain his selection for the CWG and Asian Games.Jadumani, who won the selection trials in Patiala, will now go with the team. Meanwhile, 70kg men’s boxer Sumit Kundu is waiting for a visa for his trainer Ved Prakash, the British High Commission has asked for help.The ministry has approved a 191-member contingent comprising 126 athletes (78 men and 48 women), 56 team officials/support staff/managers and nine ETOs, besides 14 staff members of the IOA contingent led by Chief of Mission Rohit Rajpal.The nine ETOs will remain outside the designated team hotels, with their accommodation costs borne by the IOA. The ministry also clarified that it will not bear the expenses of the elected members of the IOA executive committee.