New Delhi: Indian javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra is set to make his long-awaited return to competitive action at the Doha Diamond League on June 19 after recovering from a back injury that kept him out of action for the start of the 2026 season.
The announcement was made by Chopra’s management firm, Vel Sports, through a post on Instagram. “First throw of 2026 lands in Doha! Neeraj Chopra returns to competitive action on June 19,” the post read.
The 28-year-old Olympic champion was a late addition to the competition, with his name absent from the initial list of participants released by the organisers on June 12.
Doha holds special significance for Chopra. At the same venue in May last year, the two-time Olympic medallist finally breached the coveted 90-metre mark, recording a throw of 90.23 metres. However, he finished second behind Germany’s Julian Weber, who registered a winning effort of 91.06 metres.
Chopra’s return comes days after he was named in India’s athletics squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, subject to achieving the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) qualifying standard of 82.61 metres.
The Doha Diamond League was originally scheduled to be the season opener on May 8 but was postponed because of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
With his fitness concerns seemingly behind him, Chopra will be eager to begin the season strongly as he gears up for a packed international calendar and aims to add more medals to his illustrious career.
