New Delhi, Aug 29: India’s Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has brought his 2026 season to an early end after suffering a ligament tear during training, the star athlete announced on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics and silver at the Paris Games, finished second at the Lausanne Diamond League last week with an impressive throw of 88.05 metres.
However, the injury suffered soon after the Lausanne event has forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the season, including the Diamond League final in Brussels next month, for which he had qualified.
“After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season,” Chopra said in an Instagram post.
The setback comes after Chopra endured a lengthy injury layoff last year. He had been experiencing lower-back discomfort since 2023 and aggravated a disc injury during training in September 2025. He subsequently underwent a nine-month rehabilitation programme before returning to competition in June.
Chopra acknowledged the disappointment of another interruption but remained determined to make a strong comeback.
“It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm. But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey,” he said.
“My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger,” the Indian star added.
Chopra’s absence will also deprive fans of another potential contest with Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, his successor as Olympic champion in Paris. The two South Asian javelin stars had faced each other at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, although their much-anticipated clash failed to produce a close contest.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott went on to claim his maiden world title at the championships.
For Chopra, the immediate priority is now rehabilitation and a full recovery as he looks to return to competition stronger after another injury setback.
