Neeraj Chopra’s career has been defined by historic throws, Olympic medals and a relentless pursuit of excellence. But alongside those milestones has been a recurring challenge: injuries that have repeatedly interrupted his season.Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games and the remainder of the season after suffering an ankle ligament tear during training. The injury comes just days after he finished second at the Lausanne Diamond League with a season-best 88.05m. It is another frustrating setback for the two-time Olympic medallist, who had only recently returned from a lengthy injury layoff.Here is a look at the major injury setbacks that have disrupted his career.
2026: An ankle tear ends his season
Chopra’s latest injury is an ankle ligament tear sustained during training. The injury rules him out of the Asian Games, the Diamond League Final and the World Athletics Ultimate Championships, bringing his 2026 campaign to an early end.It comes after a promising return to competition following almost nine months away from the sport.
Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo)
2025-26: A long road back from a back injury
Chopra’s previous major setback came with a back injury that kept him away from competition for around nine months. He had competed at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo despite carrying the problem, finishing eighth. The injury subsequently forced him into an extended rehabilitation period.His comeback was delayed further in 2026, with Chopra missing the Doha Diamond League before eventually returning to competitive action.
2024: Adductor concerns before Paris
The 2024 season brought another fitness scare. Chopra withdrew from the Ostrava Golden Spike after experiencing discomfort in his adductor. Chopra subsequently opted out of the Paris Diamond League, again because of his troublesome adductor/groin issue. He later explained that he did not want to take unnecessary risks with the Paris Olympics approaching.The decision paid off as Chopra stayed fit for the Olympics and successfully defended his place on the podium, winning silver in Paris.
2023: Three meets on the sidelines
In 2023, a muscle strain forced Chopra to miss three competitions in quick succession – the FBK Games, Paavo Nurmi Games and Ostrava Golden Spike. He missed roughly a month of competition before returning at the Lausanne Diamond League.
2022: Groin injury costs him Commonwealth Games
After winning his first World Championships medal in Eugene, Chopra suffered a groin injury that ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. It was a major disappointment for the Indian star, who was the defending champion after winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
2019: The first major interruption
One of the earliest and most significant injury setbacks of Chopra’s career came in 2019. A right elbow injury required surgery and forced him to miss the World Championships that year. It also kept him away from competition for several months. Around a 16-month competitive hiatus, before his return in January 2020.
