Neeraj Chopra’s return has been delayed as injury ruled him out of the Doha Diamond League

India’s Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo) Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra will not compete in the upcoming Diamond League meet in Doha on June 19 as he continues to recover from a back injury sustained during training in Switzerland.The two-time Olympic medalist, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has decided to focus on rehabilitation and preparation for big events later this year, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.Chopra is currently based in Bienne, Switzerland, where he is undergoing a 47-day off-season training program. The 28-year-old is working closely with his long-time physio Ishaan Marwa and trainer Jai Choudhary as he looks to regain full fitness ahead of the busy second half of the season.His absence means fans will not be treated to a repeat of last year’s unforgettable performance in Doha. The Indian thrower kicked off his 2025 Diamond League campaign in the Qatari capital with a historic throw of 90.23m, breaking the elusive 90m mark for the first time and setting a new national record.Despite Chopra’s breakthrough effort, however, Germany’s Julian Weber stole victory with a stunning last-round throw of 91.06m to set up one of the most memorable javelin events in recent years.This year’s Doha is expected to feature another world-class course. Heading the line-up is Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who comes in as the world leader after launching a national record throw of 92.62m to win the Diamond League meet in Rome on June 4.He will be joined by Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.Several other elite throwers will also compete, including Grenada’s former two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Anderson Peters, as well as American world bronze medalist Curtis Thompson.Alongside the Czech star Jakub Vadlejch, who has won silver medals from the Olympic Games and World Championships in the past, veteran Kenyan Julius Yego, former world champion and Olympic silver medalist, is also preparing to compete.The Doha meeting, officially known as the Mazzraty Doha Meeting, is the seventh stop of the Wanda Diamond League 2026 season. The prestigious series features 15 events on four continents and began in Shanghai/Keqiao on May 16. The season will end with the Diamond League finals in Brussels, scheduled for September 4-5.While Chopra’s absence will be a significant loss for the fans in Doha, the Indian star remains focused on returning to full fitness as he targets success at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year.