India’s Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to make his return to competitive action within the next 10 days, according to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The update was confirmed by AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla, who also added that Chopra has recovered from his back injury and is now in the final phase of rehabilitation.
“Neeraj Chopra has recovered from his back injury. He will be returning to action probably in the next 10 days,” Sumariwalla said.
Chopra has been out of competition since the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where he competed while carrying a back issue. That appearance proved to be a difficult outing, and it ultimately marked the beginning of his extended injury break. Since then, he has not participated in any international event, focusing entirely on recovery and rehabilitation.
The Tokyo World Championships now stand as Chopra’s most recent competitive appearance. At the time, he was already managing a back injury picked up in training, but still chose to compete for India on the global stage. Following the event, his condition required a longer recovery period than initially expected, forcing him to step away from the 2026 season build-up.
His absence has been significant for Indian athletics, as Chopra has been the country’s most consistent global medal contender in track and field over the past several years.
Qualification pressure ahead of Commonwealth Games 2026
While his return is imminent, Chopra still has a key benchmark to meet before securing his place at the Commonwealth Games 2026. According to AFI, he will need to achieve the qualification standard of 82.61m to confirm selection.
Sumariwalla emphasized that despite Chopra’s stature, selection protocols remain unchanged and performance standards must be met.
Given his dominance in recent years—including Olympic gold and multiple global podium finishes—his return is one of the most anticipated developments in international javelin. However, the extended break since the Tokyo Worlds has also raised questions about how quickly he can regain peak competitive rhythm.
If Chopra competes within the next 10 days as planned, it will mark his first appearance in nearly a year since the Tokyo World Championships. The performance will also serve as a key indicator of his readiness ahead of the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification window, where he must meet the 82.61m mark to officially secure his spot.
For now, India’s athletics fraternity will be watching closely as its biggest star prepares for a long-awaited return to the runway.