Neeraj Chopra sidelined for season after ankle ligament tear, misses major events
Javelin world champion Neeraj Chopra has ended his 2026 campaign due to an ankle ligament injury, withdrawing from the Diamond League Final and the Asian Games.
India’s premier javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra confirmed that a ligament tear in his ankle will end his 2026 season, ruling him out of both the Diamond League Final and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The setback came soon after he posted a season-best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League, a result that had raised hopes of regained consistency. Earlier in the year he returned from a long layoff, finishing fourth in Doha and earning silver in Glasgow, where Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won gold.
The injury halted his climb in the Diamond League qualification standings, where he had risen to seventh. Chopra will now focus on rehabilitation, while his absence creates a notable gap in India’s athletics medal expectations for the continental Games.
Why it matters
India loses its top javelin contender for the Asian Games, affecting the country's medal prospects.
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