CWG 2026: India's athletics coach provides major update on Neeraj Chopra's fitness
Neeraj Chopra is healthy and fit at CWG
India are banking heavily on athletics events in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026, having sent a 32-member athletics contingent to the tournament in Glasgow, Scotland. The contingent will be led by India’s golden boy, Neeraj Chopra, who remains the nation’s biggest medal contender.
Despite having struggled with injuries in recent years, Neeraj remains India’s most accomplished athlete internationally. The javelin thrower is a two-time Olympic medallist, including a gold in the Tokyo 2020 Games. He also won a gold medal at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 86.47m.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026 (CWG) Day 3 Live Updates
However, he has been ravaged by a niggling lower back injury in recent years, while also dealing with ankle, shoulder, wrist, and adductor issues.
In fact, his back injury led to a disappointing eighth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo in September, before his season was cut short. He also had to withdraw from the Birmingham 2022 CWG through injury.
His fitness issues also affected his preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he had to settle for silver, with the gold going to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. This year, he has competed just once in the Doha Diamond League, throwing an 85.69m effort to finish fourth.
As a result, his fitness has been the main cause of concern for the Indian athletics staff. However, some good news has emerged ahead of the Glasgow Games.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for Day 3
Neeraj Chopra ‘in perfect shape’, says coach
India’s chief athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair delivered a welcome update on Neeraj Chopra’s fitness, saying that the 28-year-old is in his best physical condition ahead of the tournament.
“Chopra is in perfect shape physically. I have not seen him so good in a long time. He is very confident, and we can expect a very good performance from him,” Nair told PTI. “I need not tell you the colour of the medal, but he is very confident of doing his best.”
After his lengthy injury lay-off and rehabilitation, Neeraj landed in Glasgow on Friday. He is one of three Indian athletes competing in the men’s javelin throw event, alongside Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh.
While Neeraj remains a favourite to clinch his second CWG gold, he will face tough competition from current Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, and Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage.
Also Read: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for today Day 3 (July 26)
The men’s javelin qualification is scheduled for July 30, with the medal event taking place on July 31.
Where and when will Commonwealth Games 2026 take place?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
When will Neeraj Chopra compete at CWG 2026?
The men’s javelin qualification is scheduled for July 30, 2026, with the final medal event on July 31, 2026, in Glasgow.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.