Neeraj Chopra to miss Asian Games after ankle ligament tear ends 2026 season
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will miss the remainder of the 2026 season, including the Asian Games in Japan, after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle during training, the javelin star announced on Saturday.
Chopra said the injury occurred shortly after he produced a season-best throw at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he had begun to regain the form he had been seeking.
“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 in a post on Instagram.
The 28-year-old said the decision was disappointing, particularly as he felt he was “close to finding my rhythm”, but added that his priority was now to recover fully and return stronger.
The injury also rules Chopra out of the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on September 5, for which he had qualified.
His withdrawal is a major setback for India’s Asian Games campaign, with Chopra expected to be one of the country’s leading medal contenders.
Chopra had endured a difficult first half of the season but showed signs of a turnaround in Lausanne with his season-best effort.
The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist has established himself as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers. He won Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021 and followed it with a silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
He also became the first Indian to win a World Championships gold in athletics when he triumphed in Budapest in 2023.
Chopra said he would now focus on rehabilitation, with the aim of returning to competition once he has fully recovered.
