Neeraj Chopra ends 2026 season after ankle ligament tear

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has ended his 2026 athletics season prematurely after sustaining a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of the upcoming Asian Games and other major competitions. The Indian javelin star announced the decision 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.