Neeraj Chopra faces lengthy rehab after ankle ligament tear

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra faces a lengthy recovery after suffering a severe ankle ligament tear, ending his 2026 season prematurely. He returned to India on Monday following the injury, which occurred during training after his season-best throw of 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League. The injury forced him to miss the Diamond League Final in Zurich and the Asian Games in Japan, both scheduled this month. Chopra has consulted orthopaedic surgeon Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala to discuss his rehabilitation, which will begin in India before moving abroad for advanced recovery, with surgery not ruled out. The tear affects the ligaments in his blocking leg, and he will now spend time with family in India. His long-term goal remains the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with a return to competition in 2027 dependent on his recovery progress.