--- title: "Neeraj Chopra opens up on 10-month injury battle behind Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow; season back on track after 10-month layoff" sdDatePublished: "2026-08-06T09:18:00Z" source: "https://www.olympics.com/en/news/neeraj-chopra-injury-recovery-commonwealth-games-2026-comeback" topics: - name: "sport" identifier: "medtop:15000000" locations: - "Tokyo" - "Lausanne" - "Glasgow" - "Doha" - "Czech Republic" - "India" --- Neeraj Chopra opens up on 10-month injury battle behind Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow; season back on track after 10-month layoff Neeraj Chopra opens up on 10-month injury battle behind Commonwealth Games silver Neeraj Chopra opens up on 10-month injury battle behind Commonwealth Games silver The former Olympic and world champion revealed that he trained for months without knowing whether he would even compete this season. Neeraj Chopra has revealed the physical and mental toll of the injury-hit 10 months that threatened to derail his season, describing a recovery process that tested his patience and left him unsure whether he would return to competition this year. The Indian javelin throw star shared an emotional message on Instagram on Tuesday, days after claiming the silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow with a season-best throw of 85.83m. "There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey," Chopra wrote in his Instagram post. "The past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected. "Recovering from multiple injuries, rebuilding my body, finding my rhythm again, and learning to be patient when all I wanted was to compete. I was training every day without knowing if I would even have a season to compete this year." The silver medal at CWG 2026 marked an encouraging step forward for the two-time Olympic medallist, who had been troubled for much of the past year by an adductor injury and a series of other fitness setbacks. After opening his 2026 athletics season with a fourth-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in June, Chopra returned to the podium in Glasgow despite challenging weather conditions. The 28-year-old Indian athlete’s run began with recurring fitness issues during the 2025 season before he aggravated a lower back injury ahead of the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He competed despite the injury and finished eighth - an unusually low placing for an athlete who had consistently finished among the top two at major international competitions since winning Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020. The injury lay-off also delayed the start of his 2026 season, with the Doha Diamond League marking his first competition of the year. Chopra also paid tribute to the people who stood by him throughout his recovery. "To be back competing at this level feels good," he wrote. "None of this would have been possible on my own. I'm deeply grateful for the people who never stopped believing in me. "My physio, Ishaan ji, who has been by my side every step of the recovery, helping me get back to doing what I love. My coach , Jai, has been with me since the very first time I picked up a javelin. My family, who always stand strong with me no matter what the circumstances are." After ending his coaching partnership with Czech legend Jan Železný earlier this year, Chopra reunited with Jai Chaudhary, who coached him during his formative years in the sport. The Indian national record holder, whose best throw of 90.23m came at the Doha Diamond League in 2025, will next compete at the Lausanne Diamond League as he continues his gradual return to full fitness. "The season continues, one step at a time," Chopra concluded. Picture by 2025 Getty Images Neeraj Chopra: Did you know the Olympic champion is known as 'sarpanch'? Who is Neeraj Chopra’s coach?