Neeraj Chopra to miss remainder of 2026 season due to ankle injury

Indian javelin star and two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has announced his withdrawal from the remainder of the 2026 season due to an ankle ligament tear sustained during training. The injury follows a period where Chopra had begun to regain momentum, including a season-best throw of 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League.

As a result of the injury, Chopra will miss several major upcoming competitions, including the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Diamond League Finals in Brussels, and the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. Despite the setback, Chopra had successfully secured a spot in the Diamond League Finals by finishing sixth in the overall standings with 12 points.

Chopra shared the news via social media, stating that the decision was made after consultations with his medical team to prioritize his long-term recovery. He expressed disappointment at the timing but emphasized his focus on rehabilitation to return stronger in future seasons.