Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is finally back in action after almost a year and says he is feeling fully fit ahead of the Doha Diamond League on Friday.
For Indian fans, the biggest relief is not just his return, but his assurance that he has recovered well after battling multiple injuries since last year’s World Championships in Tokyo.
“I feel really good and really fit,” Neeraj said before the season opener.
The men’s javelin event will begin at 11:14 pm IST on June 19. The competition will not be shown on television in India, but fans can watch it live on the Wanda Diamond League’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
Neeraj admitted that competing in the Tokyo World Championships despite a back injury turned out to be a mistake. He finished eighth with a throw of 84.03 metres, the worst result of his career.
After the event, he suffered injuries in his ankle and shoulder as well, forcing him to stay away from competition for several months.
Instead of rushing back, Neeraj and his team decided to focus on recovery. He resumed throwing only around six weeks ago and trained at the Swiss Olympic centre in Magglingen.
One major change this season is his coaching setup. Neeraj has reunited with Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary, the coach who first introduced him to javelin nearly 15 years ago.
According to Neeraj, the focus is on returning to his natural technique rather than making major changes.
The 2026 season will be busy for the Indian star, with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan among his biggest targets.
However, his first challenge comes in Doha, where he faces an in-form field featuring some of the world’s best throwers.
One of the biggest names to watch will be Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage. The 22-year-old has been in sensational form this season and recently set a national record with a throw of 92.62 metres, making him the second-best Asian javelin thrower in history.
Interestingly, Pathirage had won bronze behind Neeraj at the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru last year. Neeraj had encouraged the young athlete after the event, telling him not to be afraid of speaking in front of cameras and assuring him that many more podium finishes would come.
Now, the two friends will meet for the first time in a Diamond League event.
“He is a really good guy and a good friend of mine. I am happy for him. What he has achieved for Sri Lanka is really big,” Neeraj said.
The Doha Diamond League will also feature former world champions Anderson Peters and Keshorn Walcott, along with Curtis Thompson.
For Neeraj, though, Friday’s event is about more than medals and records. After a year of injuries and rehabilitation, the Indian star will be hoping to make a strong and healthy start to his season and prove that he is ready for the challenges ahead.
