India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra has been forced to bring his 2026 season to an early end after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of the biggest competitions still remaining on his calendar.
The injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Chopra, who had entered the final stretch of the season in strong form. Just recently, he produced a season-best 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League, finishing second behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage by just nine centimetres.
Chopra was scheduled to compete in three major events in September:
- 5 September — Diamond League Final
- 13 September — World Athletics Ultimate
- 28 September — Asian Games 2026
His withdrawal from the Asian Games is particularly significant for India. Chopra was the reigning Asian Games champion, having won gold in the men’s javelin at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou.
India had enjoyed a historic 1-2 finish in the event in 2022, with Chopra taking gold and Kishore Jena winning silver. Chopra’s absence therefore leaves a major void in India’s javelin campaign in 2026.
The setback also comes as India looks to build on its impressive athletics performance at the previous Asian Games. At the 2022 edition, Indian athletes won 29 athletics medals, including six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze.
For Chopra, the immediate priority will now be recovery rather than competition. After a season that saw him continue to compete at the highest level and reach the 88-metre mark again in Lausanne, his campaign ends just as the most important battles were approaching.
The medals will have to wait. For now, the javelin runway can wait too.