India's javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has been seen in a wheelchair after an ankle ligament injury forced his 2026 season to end early. A video of the Olympic and world champion at an airport has emerged online, with Chopra having confirmed that he will miss the rest of the season.
Chopra’s injury will mean he won’t be able to compete at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He will also miss the Diamond League Final, which ends a season in which he had recently made one of his best throws of the year.
Chopra seen using wheelchair and crutch
A video circulating on social media shows Chopra leaving an airport while using a wheelchair. He is also seen using a crutch, footage emerging after news of his ankle injury became public.
The visuals have drawn attention because Chopra had only recently returned to competition and was preparing for the major events scheduled for the last part of the athletics season. Reports said the video was recorded after he suffered the injury during training.
Chopra himself announced that his season was over after doctors advised him to step away from competition following the ankle problem. He said he had suffered a ligament tear in his ankle during training.
The injury started shortly after his appearance at the Lausanne Diamond League, where Chopra was second with a season-best throw of 88.05 metres. His performance had put him in contention for the Diamond League Final and the Asian Games.
Ankle Injury Rules Him Out Of Asian Games
The biggest immediate setback is Chopra's withdrawal from the Asian Games. The event is scheduled from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Chopra was expected to be one of India's leading medal contenders in the javelin throw. His absence will therefore change India's prospects in the event, with other Indian throwers expected to carry the country's challenge.
He has also been ruled out of the Diamond League Final after qualifying for the final. The ankle ligament tear has effectively ended his competitive career a couple of weeks earlier than expected.
Injury Comes After Strong Lausanne Performance
The timing of the injury has made the setback particularly frustrating for Chopra. He set 88.05 metres, his best throw of the 2026 season, and finished second at the Lausanne Diamond League.
The performance came as Chopra continued his preparations for the Asian Games and the remainder of the Diamond League season. But he picked up the ankle problem during training soon after.
Chopra shared the news of his injury on Instagram. He said the ankle ligament tear forced him to end his season early and that he’d now focus on recovery and rehabilitation.
This is another injury setback for the Indian star. Chopra had spent around nine months away from competition after a disc injury aggravated in September 2025. Now his latest ankle problem means another extended period away from competitive action.
Golden boy Neeraj Chopra in a wheelchair. 💔
— Manas Muduli (@manas_muduli) August 30, 2026
He suffered a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of the Asian Games and Diamond League Final.
Wishing our champion a speedy recovery. pic.twitter.com/IPufxKRwCn
Focus Shifts To Recovery
For Chopra now, injury isn't the priority; recovery is. His decision to end the season means he can work on rehab instead of trying to play, and that he will focus on rehabilitation for the injury.
The 28-year-old is India’s most successful track and field player and has won Olympic and world titles in the javelin throw. So his absence will be felt at the Asian Games, where he was expected to be a focal point in India's athletics campaign.
The wheelchair footage has shown fans the physical impact of the injury, while the video itself does not give any details on the severity of the injury or recovery timeline.
For now, Chopra's 2026 season is over. His return to competition will depend on his rehabilitation and recovery from the ankle ligament tear.
