Neeraj Chopra opens up on injury, misses Asian Games

Neeraj Chopra has said missing the Asian Games 2026 due to an ankle ligament injury 'does hurt.' The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist was forced to withdraw from the Nagoya Games and the Diamond League final after suffering the injury during a training session. The Times of India reports he was chasing a third consecutive Asian Games gold after triumphs in 2018 and 2023. Hindustan Times quotes him writing on LinkedIn that carrying the hope of a country into competition is a privilege and missing that opportunity hurts.

Chopra's latest setback adds to a history of injuries: elbow surgery in 2019, a groin injury that ruled him out of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and a muscle strain in 2023. The Hans India, reporting separately from the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, quotes Chopra saying cold and windy conditions made qualification tough but all three Indian javelin throwers advanced to the final. He called the field 'crazy' and praised Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage as a rising star.

Chopra emphasised the importance of friends who do not ask about his injury, saying they remind him 'there is more to life than the next competition.' He has not set a timeline for return.