Neeraj Chopra will also miss the Diamond League Final and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships as he turns his focus to recovery and a stronger comeback.
BY PC Bureau
NEW DELHI: India’s hopes of seeing Neeraj Chopra defend his Asian Games title have suffered a major blow, with the two-time Olympic medallist ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season after sustaining an ankle ligament tear during training.
Chopra announced the setback on social media, saying the injury occurred after the Lausanne Diamond League. Following consultations with his doctors and support team, he has decided to step away from competition for the rest of the season, ruling him out of the Asian Games as well as two major international meets.
The injury will also force Chopra to miss the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest from September 11 to 13.
The timing could hardly have been worse.
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After two injury-interrupted seasons, Chopra had begun showing signs that he was rediscovering his best form. His season had been affected by a lower-back problem that had troubled him since September last year, but he had continued to compete while working his way back to full fitness.
He won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a throw of 85.83 metres before producing his season-best effort of 88.05m in Lausanne.
The Lausanne throw had raised hopes that Chopra was finally building the momentum needed for a strong Asian Games campaign.
Instead, another injury has brought his season to an abrupt end.
“After a period of hard work, I finally felt I was gaining the momentum I had been looking for with a season’s best throw in Lausanne,” Chopra said.
“Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during training. After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season.”
Chopra acknowledged the disappointment but said his immediate priority was recovery.
“It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm. But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey. My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger,” he said.
Indian Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) posts, “After a period of hard work, I finally felt I was gaining the momentum I had been looking for with a Season’s Best throw in Lausanne. Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during… pic.twitter.com/QnoZqWu23Z
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 29, 2026
Another setback after injury-hit seasons
Chopra’s withdrawal is the latest setback in a period in which injuries have repeatedly disrupted his preparations.
The lower-back issue that emerged last September had already forced him to carefully manage his workload. Although he remained competitive, he was still searching for the consistency and physical freedom that had characterised his best seasons.
His 88.05m throw in Lausanne was therefore particularly encouraging. It represented his best mark of 2026 and suggested that the Olympic champion was beginning to regain his rhythm.
That progress has now been interrupted once again.
Asian Games campaign cut short
Chopra’s absence will be a significant blow to India’s athletics contingent at the 2026 Asian Games.
The javelin star has been one of the country’s most dependable medal prospects since winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. He followed that with another Olympic medal in Paris in 2024 and has remained the face of Indian athletics on the international stage.
He had been expected to be one of India’s biggest attractions at the Asian Games, but the latest injury means he will now have to watch the competition from the sidelines.
Chopra had also secured qualification for the Diamond League Final, but will not be able to compete in Brussels.
For now, the focus shifts away from medals and towards rehabilitation.
The 28-year-old has made it clear that he does not intend to rush his return. After another season disrupted by injury, the priority will be to regain full fitness before returning to competition.
For Indian athletics, the hope is that the latest setback proves temporary and that Chopra can return stronger — rather than allowing another injury-hit season to interrupt the remarkable career of India’s javelin superstar.
