India’s two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Games and the Diamond League Final after suffering an ankle ligament tear during practice. The star javelin thrower confirmed the season-ending injury on Saturday, bringing a premature halt to what was shaping up to be a strong campaign.
Injury Strikes After Lausanne Heroics
Chopra revealed that the injury occurred shortly after his season-best throw of 88.05 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 22. He had finished second in that event, missing the top spot by just nine centimetres to Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage. The throw was his best of the entire 2026 season and had raised hopes of a strong finish.
Asian Games and Brussels Final Missed
The 28-year-old had qualified for the Diamond League Final scheduled in Brussels on September 4 and September 5. He secured his spot with 12 points from two events this season, placing ahead of Poland’s Dawid Wegner and Germany’s Thomas Rohler, who had 10 points each. His earlier performance in Doha in June saw him finish fourth with a throw of 85.69 metres. Two performances across five Diamond League javelin meets were enough to seal his spot in the six-man final.
Chopra’s Emotional Statement
Chopra stated that he felt he was finally regaining his rhythm after months of hard work and had produced his best performance of the season in Lausanne. However, the ankle ligament injury during subsequent practice forced him and his medical team to decide against continuing the season. He confirmed his focus is now entirely on full rehabilitation and returning to competition stronger than ever.
Career at a Crossroads
The two-time Olympic medalist won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver at Paris 2024. His absence from the Asian Games marks a significant setback for Indian athletics. Chopra was a strong medal contender for the continental event and his absence leaves a major gap in India’s medal hopes for the tournament.
