Javelin champion Neeraj Chopra says he is forced to withdraw from the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, due to an ankle ligament injury. Writing a personal note, he says he is “not in the best place right now” and that, after “a lot of consideration,” he accepts he will not be able to compete. Chopra has previously won javelin gold at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and defended the title in Hangzhou in 2023.
In his remarks, Chopra describes the absence from the Games as difficult emotionally, saying the event has brought him some of the most memorable moments of his career. Both outlets report that he emphasizes the value of a support system during recovery, including friends who provide distraction and companionship rather than focusing on his injury. He also extends support to the Indian contingent competing in Nagoya, expressing that he will miss being part of the team, while still backing them. The coverage focuses on his personal reflections—one outlet frames it with an especially detailed account of the note’s themes and his friends’ role—while the other highlights his regret at being sidelined and his inability to defend his title again.
