Injury delays Neeraj Chopra’s return, he misses Diamond League in Doha

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will not be participating in the upcoming Diamond League tournament in Doha on June 19 as he continues to recover from a back injury sustained during a training camp in Switzerland.

The two-time Olympic medallist, who won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Games and silver at the 2024 Paris Games, has decided to focus on his rehabilitation and preparation for major competitions later in the year, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.

Chopra is currently based in Bienne, Switzerland, where he is undergoing a 47-day training camp. The 28-year-old is working closely with his long-time physiotherapist Dr Ishaan Marwaha and coach Jai Chaudhary, with the aim of regaining full fitness ahead of the busy second half of the season.

His absence means fans will not see a repeat of his memorable performance in Doha last year. The Indian opened his 2025 Diamond League campaign in the Qatari capital and produced a historic throw of 90.23m, breaking the elusive 90m mark for the first time and setting a new national record.

Despite Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable feat, however, Germany’s Julian Weber claimed victory with a stunning 91.06m in the final round, creating one of the most memorable javelin throws in recent years.

This year’s event in Doha is expected to once again feature a world-class field of athletes. The list is topped by Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who arrives as the world’s top-ranked athlete after setting a national record of 92.62m to win the Diamond League event in Rome on June 4.

He will be joined by Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and current world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.

Several other elite javelin throwers will also compete, including former two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Anderson Peters of Grenada, and American world bronze medalist Curtis Thompson.

Kenyan veteran Julius Yego, a world champion and Olympic silver medalist, will also compete alongside Czech star Jakub Vadlejch, who has a career of Olympic and world silver medals.