Ankle Injury Rules Neeraj Chopra Out of Asian Games 2026 and Remainder of Season

India’s premier javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medallist, Neeraj Chopra, has been ruled out of the remainder of the 2026 athletics season after suffering an ankle ligament tear during a training session. The 28-year-old athlete confirmed the setback, announcing that he will miss the upcoming 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where he was expected to defend his title, as well as the Diamond League Finals in Brussels. The injury occurred shortly after Chopra delivered a season-best performance of 88.05 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League, where he finished second. Having worked hard to recover momentum following earlier fitness struggles, Chopra expressed deep disappointment at the timing of the injury. In a statement on social media, he noted that while the injury is frustrating, setbacks remain an inherent part of an athlete's career. He confirmed that after consulting with his medical team, the decision was made to halt his competition schedule to focus entirely on rehabilitation. Chopra's absence represents a major blow to India’s athletics contingent at the Asian Games, where he was considered one of the country's brightest gold medal prospects. The Athletics Federation of India is now reviewing alternate options to represent the nation in the men's javelin event. Chopra emphasized that his primary focus will now be on undergoing proper treatment and achieving a full recovery to return stronger for future international competitions.