The top Indian javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, will participate in the Asian Games which will be held in Japan in September and October, said Adille Sumariwala, chairperson of the selection committee of the Athletics Federation of India, on Saturday. The 28-year-old Chopra, who is an Olympic medallist on two occasions, is now back after sustaining an injury.
Chopra sustained an injury in his lower back prior to the Tokyo World Championship in September 2025. Chopra began the season late and participated in the Doha Diamond League where he came fourth with a personal best of 85.69 meters. Though Chopra had already announced his participation in the Commonwealth Games, he hadn't confirmed his participation in the Asian Games that would take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, between September 19 and October 4.
Adil Sumariwala said, "Yes, Neeraj will participate in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He has already qualified and is now recovering from injury. He threw 85.69 meters in his first event, which is impressive. Neeraj won the gold medal in the last Asian Games in China with a throw of 88 meters (88.88 meters), and now he's already close to 86 meters. So, we see no reason why he wouldn't perform well in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games."
The AFI selection committee is expected to announce the Indian team for the Asian Games on Sunday, the final day of the ongoing National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships. Neeraj Chopra could face a tough challenge in Japan. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has broken the 90-meter mark this year and won two Diamond League titles. Olympic champion Nadeem could also join the race, making the race extremely competitive. However, he withdrew from the Doha Diamond League on June 19.
Neeraj Chopra has already been included in the 32-member Indian team for the Commonwealth Games. The AFI has left it entirely up to him to decide whether he wants to participate in any other competitions before the Games, which are scheduled to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. World Athletics Vice President Sumariwala said, "We have left this decision to him. His medical team, his coach, and everyone will sit together and decide which competitions are best for him. The main thing was to qualify, which he has done."
The top Indian javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, will participate in the Asian Games which will be held in Japan in September and October, said Adille Sumariwala, chairperson of the selection committee of the Athletics Federation of India, on Saturday. The 28-year-old Chopra, who is an Olympic medallist on two occasions, is now back after sustaining an injury.
Chopra sustained an injury in his lower back prior to the Tokyo World Championship in September 2025. Chopra began the season late and participated in the Doha Diamond League where he came fourth with a personal best of 85.69 meters. Though Chopra had already announced his participation in the Commonwealth Games, he hadn't confirmed his participation in the Asian Games that would take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, between September 19 and October 4.
Adil Sumariwala said, "Yes, Neeraj will participate in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. He has already qualified and is now recovering from injury. He threw 85.69 meters in his first event, which is impressive. Neeraj won the gold medal in the last Asian Games in China with a throw of 88 meters (88.88 meters), and now he's already close to 86 meters. So, we see no reason why he wouldn't perform well in both the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games."
The AFI selection committee is expected to announce the Indian team for the Asian Games on Sunday, the final day of the ongoing National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships. Neeraj Chopra could face a tough challenge in Japan. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has broken the 90-meter mark this year and won two Diamond League titles. Olympic champion Nadeem could also join the race, making the race extremely competitive. However, he withdrew from the Doha Diamond League on June 19.
Neeraj Chopra has already been included in the 32-member Indian team for the Commonwealth Games. The AFI has left it entirely up to him to decide whether he wants to participate in any other competitions before the Games, which are scheduled to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. World Athletics Vice President Sumariwala said, "We have left this decision to him. His medical team, his coach, and everyone will sit together and decide which competitions are best for him. The main thing was to qualify, which he has done."