India's star javelin thrower and double Olympic medallist, Neeraj Chopra, has not yet decided when he will begin his 2026 athletics season. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) confirmed that the athlete is currently concentrating on his recovery from injuries sustained during the previous season.
Focus on Rehabilitation Over Competition
Adille Sumariwalla, the AFI spokesperson and World Athletics vice-president, provided an update on Chopra's condition. He revealed that the former World Champion had competed in the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships with two injuries, including a back issue, which significantly impacted his performance. Despite advice from the federation not to compete, Chopra chose to participate for the nation.
"Neeraj is recovering from his injuries. During the World Championships, he had two injuries. Athletes don’t usually play with such injuries but he didn’t say a word," Sumariwalla told reporters. He added that the athlete's competition calendar is managed by his coach, Czech legend Jan Zelezny, and the immediate priority is full rehabilitation.
Chopra himself had spoken about his physical struggles after finishing eighth in Tokyo, ending a remarkable podium streak that lasted 2,566 days. He admitted that javelin is an extremely demanding sport where competing while not fully fit is nearly impossible.
AFI Announces Stricter Asian Games 2026 Qualification
Alongside the update on Chopra, the AFI disclosed the qualification criteria for the 2026 Asian Games. The federation has decided to set tighter standards to ensure only the most competitive athletes represent India. The benchmarks are based on the fifth or sixth-place finishes from the previous Asian Games edition.
"We have kept it tighter to make the qualification competitive," Sumariwalla explained. He emphasized that the final selection committee decision would consider consistent performance throughout the season, and participation in state-level meets is mandatory for all contenders.
Events with higher domestic competition, such as men’s javelin throw, high jump, and long jump, are expected to have significantly raised qualification marks. Similarly, sprint events (100m, 200m, 400m) will have strict standards to avoid sending athletes without genuine medal potential.
India had a successful outing in the previous Asian Games, securing 29 athletics medals (6 gold, 14 silver, 9 bronze). While 2026 also features the Commonwealth Games in July, Sumariwalla clarified that the Asian Games remain the primary focus for the federation.
Crackdown on Doping at State Meets
In a significant move to tackle doping, the AFI plans to request the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) to increase testing at State Meets. This decision comes after India topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s violation list for the third consecutive year in 2024, with 260 athletes caught, a large proportion from athletics.
"We have asked NADA to go to all the possible meets and start doing random testing. The more testing we do, the more people we will catch," stated Sumariwalla, underscoring the federation's commitment to clean sport.
As Neeraj Chopra takes the necessary time to heal, the Indian athletics landscape is gearing up for a crucial 2026 season with clearer, more competitive pathways and a reinforced stance against doping.
