'It does hurt': Neeraj Chopra opens up on missing Asian Games due to injury

Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj Chopra has opened up about his latest injury setback and the disappointment of missing the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, admitting that being unable to represent India at an event that has produced some of the most memorable moments of his career has been difficult.The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist was among India's biggest medal hopes in the men's javelin throw, but an ankle ligament injury suffered during training forced him to pull out of both the Asian Games and the Diamond League final.

Chopra's withdrawal came almost a month before the Asian Games. His most recent appearance in a major competition was at the Lausanne Diamond League Meet, where he finished second behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage.The 28-year-old had been chasing a third consecutive Asian Games gold after triumphs in Jakarta in 2018 and Hangzhou in 2023.“The Asian Games have given me some of the most special moments of my career, and not being able to represent India at this edition is difficult,” wrote Neeraj on the social media platform LinkedIn.“I will miss competing at the Asian Games this time. To the Indian contingent in Nagoya, I will miss walking alongside you.

But I will be backing you. I have precious memories of the Games. I hope you make some too," he added.

Neeraj's latest injury setback

The ankle problem is the latest in a series of injuries that have interrupted Chopra's career over the past few years.He underwent surgery on his right elbow in 2019, while a groin injury forced him to miss the 2022 Commonwealth Games. A muscle strain affected his 2023 season before he withdrew from an event a year later because of adductor discomfort.His latest setback has now kept him out of the Asian Games.“I have been dealing with an ankle ligament injury, and after a lot of consideration, I had to accept that I will not be able to compete. Being able to carry the hope of a country into competition is a privilege. To miss out on that opportunity does hurt,” wrote Neeraj.The javelin star also reflected on the importance of having the right people around him while dealing with injuries and spending long periods away from home for training and competitions.“Injuries are a part of sport. You cannot control everything that happens to you. You can only control how you respond to it. A big part of that response is the people around me. I spend a lot of time away from home - training, travelling and competing, and over the years I’ve understood that it is important to have people around you who keep you positive and grounded. In your lowest times, you don’t really need someone to give you advice or even ask how your injury happened or how long you will be out," he added.

For Chopra, that support has often come through friends who offer an escape from the constant focus on his sporting career and injuries.“Sometimes, you just need a friend to call and talk about something completely unrelated. I have friends who know I’m not in the best place right now, but when they call, they don’t ask me about my ankle. They just talk, we laugh, we remember old times, make promises to catch up; this reminds me that there is more to life than the next competition. It helps more than they probably realise,” added Neeraj.