Neeraj Chopra not competing in Diamond League Final: Why is he missing Brussels event?

Neeraj Chopra’s 2026 season has been cut short by an injury. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Neeraj Chopra will not compete in the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4-5, bringing an early end to the Indian javelin star’s 2026 season.

Neeraj had qualified for the prestigious season-ending Diamond League event, but an ankle injury has forced him to withdraw. The two-time Olympic medallist suffered a ligament tear in his ankle during a training session, shortly after finishing second at the Lausanne Diamond League with a season-best throw of 88.05m.

The injury came at an unfortunate time for Neeraj. His 88.05m effort in Lausanne had suggested that he was beginning to find his rhythm after a difficult start to the season. However, after consulting his doctor and support team, Neeraj decided not to compete in the remaining events of 2026.

“After discussions with my doctor and team, we’ve decided that I will sit out the rest of this season,” Neeraj said while announcing his withdrawal.

That decision means Neeraj will also miss the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where he was expected to be one of India’s biggest medal contenders. The Asian Games athletics competition is scheduled to take place later this month.

Neeraj’s absence is a significant blow to India’s javelin medal hopes. The Athletics Federation of India has now named Yashvir Singh as his replacement in the Asian Games squad.