Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out for the rest of the 2026 season after suffering an ankle ligament tear in training, forcing the two-time Olympic medallist to miss next month’s Asian Games in Japan.
Chopra, who returned to competition in June after a lower-back injury, said on Saturday that he had taken the decision after consulting his doctor and team.
“Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during training,” Chopra said in a post on X.
“After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season.”
The injury also rules him out of the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on September 5 and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest from September 11-13.
The setback comes just as Chopra appeared to be regaining his form. He won silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83 metres before producing a season’s best 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21.
“It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm,” Chopra said. “But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey. My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger.”
Chopra had collected 12 Diamond League points during the season, including a fourth-place finish in Doha and second in Lausanne, securing sixth place in the overall standings and qualification for the final.
His season had already been disrupted by a lower-back problem that delayed his return until June. The latest injury now brings his campaign to an early end and leaves Chopra facing another period of rehabilitation.
