New Delhi, August 29, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2026 season after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of next month’s Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The injury also means Chopra will miss the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest from September 11 to 13.
Chopra announced his decision on Saturday through a post on X, saying he had taken the call after consulting his doctor and team.
“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 training. After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season,” Chopra said.
The 2026 season had already proved difficult for the Indian javelin star, whose return to competitive action was delayed until June because of a lower-back injury that had troubled him since September last year.
Chopra nevertheless showed promising form after returning to competition. He won silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83 metres before producing a season-best 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21.
The Lausanne performance had suggested that Chopra was regaining his rhythm. He had also secured qualification for the Diamond League Final after collecting 12 points during the season, including a fourth-place finish in Doha and second place in Lausanne. He eventually finished sixth in the final standings after the 14th and last Diamond League leg in Zurich.
The latest injury has now brought his season to an early close, with Chopra shifting his focus to recovery and rehabilitation.
“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. Thank you all for the love and support,” he said.
Chopra had been expected to compete at the World Athletics Ultimate Championships before turning his attention to the Asian Games in Japan. He will now spend the remainder of the year recovering from the ankle injury and preparing for his return to competition.
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