Olympic javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has announced the end of his 2026 season following a ligament injury sustained during training.
Key facts
- •Neeraj Chopra is 28 years old.
- •The injury occurred during training shortly after the Lausanne Diamond League.
- •Chopra previously spent nine months in rehabilitation following a disc injury in September 2025.
- •The athlete will miss the upcoming Diamond League finals in Brussels.
- •Chopra has dealt with lower back discomfort since 2023.
Former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has concluded his 2026 season early after suffering a ligament tear during training. The 28-year-old Indian athlete, who earned silver in Paris and gold at the Tokyo Olympics, announced the decision on Saturday via an Instagram post.
Injury and Recovery
Chopra sustained the injury shortly after placing second at the Lausanne Diamond League last week with a throw of 88.05 metres. Following consultations with his medical team, he decided to withdraw from the remainder of the season to focus on recovery. This injury marks the second time in a year that Chopra has been sidelined for an extended period. He previously underwent a nine-month rehabilitation process after aggravating a disc injury in September 2025, returning to competition this past June.
Impact on Competition
The early end to his season means Chopra will miss the Diamond League finals, which are scheduled to take place in Brussels next month. Chopra stated that he had been working toward finding his rhythm before the setback occurred.
Timeline
- September 2025Chopra aggravated a disc injury during training.
- June 2026Chopra returned to competition following a nine-month rehabilitation.
- August 2026Chopra placed second at the Lausanne Diamond League before suffering a ligament tear.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Channel NewsAsia.
