Neeraj Chopra Ruled Out of Asian Games 2026 by Ankle Tear

Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the Asian Games 2026 after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle during training, with the two-time Olympic medallist confirming that he will miss the rest of the 2026 season. Chopra announced the setback on social media on Saturday, ending a campaign in which he had recently produced his season’s best throw at the Lausanne Diamond League.

Ankle injury ends Chopra’s 2026 campaign

Chopra said the ankle injury occurred shortly after the Lausanne Diamond League, where he registered a season’s best effort of 88.05 metres. After an assessment and discussions with his doctor and team, the decision was made for him to sit out the remainder of the season, including the upcoming Asian Games.

“After a period of hard work, I finally felt I was gaining the momentum I had been looking for with a Season’s Best throw in Lausanne,” Chopra said in his social-media post.

He added that he sustained the ligament tear during training shortly afterwards. “After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season. It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm. But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey.”

The withdrawal is a significant blow ahead of the Asian Games 2026, where Chopra would have been part of India’s contingent. His absence also removes him from the remainder of the international events on his 2026 schedule after he had begun to build momentum following a difficult period with fitness concerns.

Chopra had been in and out during the season, primarily because of a lower back injury that had troubled him since September of the previous year. Despite not being fully fit, he won silver for India at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83 metres.

His performance in Lausanne then offered a further sign of progress. The 88.05-metre effort stood as his best throw of the season and raised hopes that he was moving closer to his best form. Instead, the new ankle issue has brought an unexpected end to his competitive year.

Diamond League Final and Budapest event also missed

Chopra’s decision to end his season means he will also miss the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5. He had qualified for the event, but the ankle ligament tear will prevent him from taking his place in the final.

He is also set to miss the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, scheduled for September 11 to 13. Those events, along with the Asian Games, had formed the key remaining fixtures in Chopra’s 2026 calendar.

In his message, Chopra said his attention has now turned fully towards recovery. “My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger,” he wrote.

For Chopra, the immediate priority is rehabilitation after a season that included both encouraging performances and ongoing physical setbacks. The Lausanne season’s best showed the progress he felt he was making, but the subsequent injury has forced him to pause his return and defer his competitive ambitions until after his recovery.