Doha: Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra has admitted that competing at the 2025 World Championships while carrying a back injury was not the right decision, but says he has now fully recovered and is eager to begin his 2026 season at the Doha Diamond League on Friday.
The two-time Olympic medallist endured a difficult outing at the World Championships in Tokyo last September, finishing eighth with a throw of 84.03 metres. Chopra later revealed that he had been struggling with a lower back injury, which delayed the start of his current season.
Reflecting on that decision, Chopra said he had chosen to compete despite knowing he was not fully fit because it was the final event of the season.
“I had some injury before the Tokyo World Championships. Looking back, competing there was probably not the best decision because I already knew there was a problem. But it was the last competition of the season, so I decided to take part,” Chopra said ahead of the Doha meet.
The 28-year-old explained that recovery required addressing multiple physical issues that surfaced during training and competition. Along with the back injury, he also dealt with concerns related to his ankle and shoulder before working closely with his support team and physiotherapists to regain full fitness.
“I feel really good and fit now. Let’s see what happens tomorrow,” Chopra said confidently.
Doha holds special significance for the Indian star. It was at the same venue in May 2025 that he finally crossed the elusive 90-metre mark with a throw of 90.23 metres. However, Chopra believes that throw was far from technically perfect.
“Technically, it wasn’t my best throw. The arm speed was excellent, but my lower-body movement could have been better. If I had executed it properly, it might have travelled another two or three metres,” he said.
Interestingly, Chopra revealed that some of his favourite throws are not his medal-winning efforts but those produced during qualification rounds at major championships.
“I feel more relaxed during qualification rounds and my technique is usually much better. In finals, I often become too aggressive and sometimes forget the technical aspects,” he explained.
The Indian athlete also spoke about his decision to part ways with legendary Czech javelin thrower and coach Jan Zelezny earlier this year. Chopra worked with the world-record holder for a year and credited him for helping him achieve the 90-metre milestone.
“Zelezny is a great athlete and coach. We worked on several important aspects and I’m happy I crossed 90 metres under his guidance. But after the World Championships, I felt it was time to return to my own ideas and work with an Indian coach,” Chopra said.
He has since reunited with Jaiveer Chaudhary, his former mentor who has known him since the beginning of his javelin journey nearly 16 years ago.
“Jaiveer understands my technique, my training patterns and my strengths. We are focusing on my natural style rather than making major technical changes,” he added.
Although 2026 does not feature either the Olympics or the World Championships, Chopra believes the season will remain highly competitive due to the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are expected to feature a world-class field, including Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who recently threw 92.62 metres, Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott and two-time world champion Anderson Peters.
“All of them have crossed 90 metres. The Commonwealth Games will be as competitive as the Olympics or the World Championships,” Chopra said.
He also confirmed plans to compete at the Asian Games in Japan later this year.
Discussing the unique conditions in Doha, Chopra highlighted the role of wind in javelin throwing. The venue has produced some of the biggest throws in history, including Thomas Röhler’s 93.90 metres and Anderson Peters’ 93.07 metres.
According to Chopra, properly using wind assistance can significantly improve performance.
“If the javelin is released with the right angle and the wind supports it from behind, it can add distance. But if you throw too flat, the wind won’t help much. Understanding the conditions and adapting mentally is very important,” he said.
With his fitness restored and confidence returning, Chopra will now look to make a strong start to a season that could once again see him challenge the world’s best on the biggest stages.
