Neeraj Chopra reflects on injury regrets ahead of Doha Diamond League return

‘Playing World Championships was not a good idea’: Neeraj Chopra ahead of Doha return

Neeraj Chopra, the double Olympic medallist in javelin throw, is set to return to competition at the Doha Diamond League on Friday after a nine-month injury hiatus. Reflecting on his decision to compete at the Tokyo World Championships last year despite carrying a back injury, Chopra expressed some regret. “I don’t think it was a good decision to compete in Tokyo knowing that I was already carrying an injury,” he admitted during the pre-event press conference.

Chopra revealed that he had sustained the back injury during training before the World Championships but chose to compete as it was the final event of the season. “In athletes’ lives, if you try to save one injury, there is another one that can come up. But it was the last competition of the year, so I pushed for it,” he explained. The injury required a lengthy recovery period, delaying his return to competitive action. He also noted that he had coordinated with the event organizers to confirm his participation close to the tournament.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) recently provisionally included Chopra in the squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games after he confirmed his readiness to compete. AFI’s chairman of the selection committee, Adille Sumariwalla, stated that Chopra would need to surpass the qualification mark of 82.61m to secure his spot.

Doha holds special significance for Chopra, as it was the venue where he achieved the elusive 90m mark last year. “Yes, I have that memory of the 90m mark throw. That is why it is one of my favourite venues,” he said. However, he acknowledged that the throw was not technically perfect. “It came out fast from my arm, but if I could do better with my lower body, I’ll improve 2-3m more,” he added.

In Doha, Chopra will face a formidable lineup of competitors, including Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage, reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott, former world champion Anderson Peters, Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, and Kenyan veteran Julius Yego. Speaking about Pathirage, who currently leads the world rankings, Chopra said, “I’m happy for Rumesh. He is a good thrower, and it is good to see someone from Sri Lanka throwing that well.”

Since the Tokyo World Championships, Chopra has made changes to his coaching setup, parting ways with javelin legend Jan Zelezny and resuming training with Jay Chaudhary, his senior coach from his early career. “I wanted to focus on my technique and implement my ideas. Jay has known me since the early days, he has seen my whole journey. So, he understands my technique better,” Chopra explained.

As Chopra prepares to compete in a highly competitive field, all eyes will be on how his body responds after the extended injury layoff.