Neeraj Chopra's Participation in Commonwealth Games 2026 Uncertain Amid Injury Concerns
Neeraj Chopra's Status for CWG 2026
Neeraj Chopra is among three Indian male javelin throwers selected for the athletics team representing India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games (CWG). However, his participation remains uncertain due to ongoing injury issues. The two-time Olympic medalist has been inactive for the past nine months and has yet to compete this season.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced a 32-member squad for the upcoming games, scheduled to be held in Glasgow from July 23 to August 2. This team comprises 22 male and 10 female athletes. Until recently, there was a risk of India not having any male javelin throwers in the competition after Sachin Yadav failed to qualify, despite finishing fourth at last year's World Championships. Fortunately, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir secured their spots by achieving personal best throws of 83.76 m and 82.93 m, respectively, surpassing the AFI's minimum qualification mark of 82.61m. Sachin has since withdrawn from the tournament due to injury and will not attempt to qualify further.
Uncertainty Surrounds Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj, who made history by winning India's first-ever gold medal in javelin throw at the CWG during the 2018 Gold Coast edition, is still doubtful for this year's competition. The 28-year-old has not participated in any competitive events since the World Championships in Tokyo last year, where he ended a six-year podium streak with an eighth-place finish. He has been recovering from a back injury since then. Although he is included in the squad, Neeraj must meet the 82.61m qualification standard at an event to compete. Currently, there is no information on when he will make his season debut, and he has not been listed among the participants for the Doha Diamond League. Neeraj missed the chance to defend his gold medal at the 2022 Birmingham edition due to injury and aims to secure a medal at the CWG after an eight-year gap. Additionally, triple jumper Selva Prabhu also needs to confirm his qualification despite being named in the squad.
India's Athletics Team for CWG 2026
Men's Team
- Gurindervir Singh — 100m
- Animesh Kujur — 200m
- Gulveer Singh — 5000m / 10000m
- Tejas Ashok Shirse — 110m Hurdles
- Yashas P — 400m Hurdles
- Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan — 400m Hurdles
- Sarvesh Anil Kushare — High Jump
- Aadarsh Ramaj — High Jump
- Dev Meena — Pole Vault
- Kuldeep Kumar — Pole Vault
- Sreeshankar M — Long Jump
- Lokesh Sathyanathan — Long Jump
- Praveen Chithravel — Triple Jump
- Selva Prabhu — Triple Jump*
- Samardeep Singh Gill — Shot Put
- Tajinderpal Singh Toor — Shot Put
- Neeraj Chopra — Javelin Throw*
- Rohit Yadav — Javelin Throw
- Yash Vir Singh — Javelin Throw
- Tejaswin Shankar — Decathlon / High Jump
- Vishal T K — 400m Relay / 4x400m Relay
- Rajesh Ramesh — 400m Relay / 4x400m Relay
Women's Team
- Parul Chaudhary — 3000m Steeplechase / 5000m
- Pooja — High Jump
- Manpreet Kaur — Shot Put
- Seema — Discus Throw
- Nidhi Rani — Discus Throw
- Ravina A. — 10000m Race Walk
- Priyanka — 10000m Race Walk
- Ansa Babu — 4x400m Relay
- Rashdeep Kaur — 4x400m Relay
- Neeru Pathak — 4x400m Relay