Indian Javelin Star Neeraj Chopra He will not take part in the upcoming meeting of the Doha Diamond League on June 19 as he recovers from a back injury sustained during training in Switzerland.The two-time Olympic medallist, who claimed gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024, has chosen to focus on recovery and preparation for major events, including the Commonwealth Games later this year. Asian Games.Chopra is currently based in Bienne, Switzerland, where he is undergoing a 47-day off-season training program. The 28-year-old has been working closely with his long-time physiotherapist Ishan Marwaha and coach Jai Chaudhary as he looks to regain full fitness ahead of a busy second half of the season.His absence means fans will not get a repeat of last year’s memorable performance in Doha. The Indian thrower kicked off his 2025 Diamond League campaign in the Qatari capital and produced a historic throw of 90.23m, breaking the 90m barrier for the first time, setting a new national record.However, despite Chopra’s historic effort, Germany’s Julian Weber emerged victorious with a stunning final round throw of 91.06m, one of the most memorable javelin events in recent years.This year’s Doha event is expected to showcase another world-class field. Topping the line-up is Sri Lanka’s Romesh Tharangapathiraj, who arrives as the world leader after launching a national record throw of 92.62m to win the Diamond League meeting in Rome on June 4.He will be joined by Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and reigning world champion Keshawar Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago.The event will feature several other elite throwers, including former two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Anderson Peters of Grenada, as well as American world bronze medalist Curtis Thompson.Former world champion and Olympic silver medalist veteran Kenyan Julius Yego is also set to compete alongside Czech star Jakub Widlich, who has previously won Olympic and World Championship silver medals.The Doha Meeting, officially known as the Mazzraty Doha Meeting, is the seventh stop of the 2026 Wanda Diamond League season. The prestigious series features 15 events across four continents and kicks off on May 16 in Shanghai/Qiqiao. The season will conclude with the Diamond League Finals in Brussels, scheduled for September 4-5.While Chopra’s absence will be a significant loss for fans in Doha, the Indian star remains focused on returning to full fitness as he targets success at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year.
