Neeraj Chopra’s Injury Struggles: From 2019 Elbow Surgery to 2026 Torn Ankle Ligament – The Setbacks and Comebacks That Defined His Career

He is battling Neeraj Chopra’s injury Neeraj Chopra’s career has been defined by historic throws, Olympic medals and a relentless pursuit of perfection. But alongside those milestones was a recurring challenge: injuries that repeatedly interrupted his season.Neeraj Chopra has been ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games and the rest of the season after tearing ankle ligaments during training. The injury comes just days after he finished second in the Lausanne Diamond League with a best time of 88.05m. It is another frustrating setback for the two-time Olympic medalist, who has only recently returned from a long injury lay-off.Here’s a look at the major injury setbacks that have derailed his career.

2026: His season ends with a sprained ankle

Chopra’s latest injury is a torn ankle ligament in training. The injury ruled him out of the Asian Games, the Diamond League finals and the World Athletics Championships, bringing his 2026 campaign to a premature end.It comes after a promising return to competition after nearly nine months away from the sport.

Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo)

2025-26: Long road back from back injury

Chopr’s previous major setback came with a back injury that kept him out of competition for about nine months. He competed at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, despite having a problem, finishing eighth. The injury subsequently forced him to an extended rehabilitation period.His comeback was further delayed in 2026 when Chopra missed the Doha Diamond League before finally returning to competitive action.

2024: Adductor concerns ahead of Paris

The 2024 season brought another fitness scare. Chopra withdrew from Ostrava’s Zlatá tretra after experiencing discomfort in his adductor. Chopra subsequently withdrew from the Paris Diamond League, again due to his problematic adductor/groin. He later explained that with the upcoming Olympics in Paris, he did not want to take unnecessary risks.The decision paid off as Chopra stayed fit for the Olympics and successfully defended his place on the podium by winning silver in Paris.

2023: Three meet on the sidelines

In 2023, muscle strain forced Chopra to miss three competitions in quick succession – FBK Games, Paavo Nurmi Games and Ostrava Golden Spike. He missed about a month of competition before returning to the Lausanne Diamond League.

2022: Groin injury costs him Commonwealth Games

After winning his first World Championships medal in Eugene, Chopra suffered a groin injury that ruled him out of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. It was a big disappointment for the Indian star, who was the defending champion after winning gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

2019: First major disruption

One of the first and most significant setbacks in Chopra’s career came in 2019. A right elbow injury required surgery and forced him to miss the World Championships that year. This also kept him away from the competition for several months. Approximately 16 months off from competition, before his return in January 2020.