NEW DELHI, Aug 2026 : India’s athletics campaign at the 2026 Asian Games has suffered a major blow after Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra announced on Saturday that he will miss the remainder of the season following an ankle ligament injury sustained during training.
The 28-year-old javelin star revealed that he suffered the injury shortly after producing a season-best effort at the Lausanne Diamond League. After consultations with his medical team, Chopra said he had decided to step away from competition for the rest of the year to focus entirely on rehabilitation.
“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,” Chopra said in a post on Instagram.
He added that, following discussions with his doctor and support team, the decision had been taken to sit out the remainder of the season.
The injury is particularly disappointing for Chopra, who had been showing signs of returning to his best form after a difficult period earlier in the campaign. His performance in Lausanne had provided encouragement that he was beginning to rediscover his rhythm and consistency.
“It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm. But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey,” Chopra said.
The injury will also rule him out of the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5. Chopra had already qualified for the prestigious season-ending competition but will now be unable to compete.
His absence is expected to be felt most strongly at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where he was regarded as one of India’s strongest medal prospects. Chopra’s withdrawal removes a major name from the country’s athletics contingent and leaves India without one of its most reliable performers on the international stage.
Despite the setback, Chopra remained positive about his recovery and made clear that his priority was to return only after achieving full fitness.
“My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger,” he said, while thanking fans for their continued support.
Chopra has established himself as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers over the past several years. He created history by winning Olympic gold at the Tokyo Games in 2021 and followed it with a silver medal at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
In 2023, Chopra became the first Indian athlete to win a World Championships gold medal in athletics when he triumphed in the javelin final in Budapest.
With the 2026 season now over for him, the focus will shift to his rehabilitation and eventual return to competition. For India, meanwhile, his absence represents a significant challenge as the nation prepares for the Asian Games.
