Neeraj Chopra to miss 2026 Asian Games and Diamond League Final after ankle ligament tear

Neeraj Chopra announced on Saturday, August 29, 2026, that he will sit out the remainder of the 2026 athletics season after sustaining a ligament tear in his ankle, ruling him out of the Asian Games in Japan and the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5.

Chopra made the decision public in a statement released on social media following a Season’s Best effort in Lausanne on August 21. The announcement came a day after he secured qualification for the Diamond League Finals despite having competed in only two meetings of the one-day series. A Reuters photograph accompanied reporting of his Lausanne appearance.

“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. Unfortunately, shortly after, I sustained a ligament tear in my ankle during training. After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season,” he said in a statement released on social media.

“It’s disappointing, especially because I felt close to finding my rhythm. But as they say, setbacks are a part of the journey. My focus now is on recovering well and coming back even stronger. Thank you all for the love and support,” he added.

Chopra had accumulated 12 points in the Diamond League standings by finishing second at the Doha and Lausanne meetings on June 19 and August 21 respectively, which placed him sixth and made him eligible for the winner-takes-all grand finale in Brussels. He reached that qualifying position despite limited appearances in the series this season.

The 28-year-old had been on a comeback after recovering from a lower back injury that dated to September last year, which delayed his return to competition until the Doha Diamond League. He was not fully fit at the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games but still claimed a silver medal there with a season’s best throw of 85.83m.

With the decision to withdraw from the remainder of the season, Chopra will miss the Asian Games in Japan and the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 5 as he concentrates on recovery and rehabilitation.