Neeraj Chopra Ends 2026 Season After Ankle Injury

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has ended his 2026 season prematurely after sustaining a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of the upcoming Asian Games and the Diamond League Final he had recently qualified for. The two-time Olympic medallist announced the setback on Saturday, August 29, 2026, via a statement on Instagram.

Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, said the injury occurred shortly after he achieved a season-best throw of 88.05 meters at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21. "After a period of hard work, I finally felt I was gaining the momentum I had been looking for with a Seasons Best throw in Lausanne. Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during training," he wrote. Following consultations with his medical team, the decision was made to withdraw from all remaining events.

The withdrawal means Chopra will miss the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which begin on September 19, where he was set to defend his men's javelin title. He will also be absent from the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4 and 5, an event for which he had secured a...