Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is targeting a strong return to competition in 2027 after an ankle ligament injury forced him to miss the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and end his season early.The Indian javelin star said he is focused on recovering and improving his performance as he looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics.Speaking to reporters at the launch of the 2026 Audi Q3 in Mumbai, Chopra stressed that there is still time before the next Olympics and that his immediate priority is to return to competition at his best.Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver at Paris 2024, said his attention is firmly on recovering from the injury and preparing for next season.“There’s still some time for the Olympics; it is going to be held in 2028. As you might know, I sustained an injury, but I am now in the process of making a comeback. My focus now is on staging a strong, solid comeback next year and delivering the kind of performance I’ve been aiming for,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.
Chopra Praises young Indian javelin throwers
Chopra also praised Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav for winning silver and bronze respectively in men’s javelin at the 2026 Asian Games. He said their achievements, despite his and Kishore Jena’s absence, showed that India has several promising athletes capable of winning medals on the international stage.Reflecting on India’s performance, Chopra highlighted the importance of developing young talent and encouraged the athletes to protect their health while continuing to enjoy the sport.“I think Yashvir and Rohit performed exceptionally well. At the last Asian Games, we secured two medals—a gold and a silver. This time around, even in the absence of Kishore (Kishore Jena) and me, we still managed to bring home two medals. The emergence of these new, young athletes is a very positive sign for India, showing that we have no shortage of talent. I wish them all the best for the future; I’d also advise them to take good care of themselves, stay injury-free, and simply enjoy their sport,” he said.
