CWG 2026: Neeraj Chopra checks in after long injury rehab | Commonwealth Games News

Neeraj Chopra(Image credit: X)

India’s star attraction Neeraj Chopra finally arrived in Glasgow on Saturday morning ahead of the high-stakes men’s javelin throw competition.Dressed in an all-black outfit consisting of a sweatshirt, track pants and a black cap, Chopra cut a relaxed figure as she made her way to the hotel where the athletics and para-athletics contingent was staying. The Olympic and world champion returned to the CWG after missing the 2022 Birmingham edition due to injury.The 2018 Gold Coast champion, Chopra enters Glasgow with just one competition under her belt last year. Since finishing a disappointing eighth at the World Championships in Tokyo in September while battling a nagging lower back injury, the 28-year-old has been away from competition, focusing entirely on rehabilitation and recovery.

His only appearance since then came at the Doha Diamond League, where an 85.69m throw earned him fourth place.Having also dealt with ankle, shoulder, wrist and adductor issues in recent years, Chopra is cautious about his comeback. “I am from Switzerland. The preparations are good. After the Doha DL, we increased the intensity of my exercise and fitness regime. It takes time to recover from the injury issues this season,” said Chopra after arriving in Glasgow.Neeraj will once again challenge his Olympic rival of Pakistan and defending CWG champion Arshad Nadeem, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who set a world-leading 92.62m at the Rome DL earlier this month, will enter the competition as the form man. Pathirage also finished ahead of Chopra in Doha. “The weather looks cloudy and rainy here. Hoping the weather will be a little warmer on my competition day,” said Chopra.Chopra will be joined by Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh in the men’s javelin throw. The qualifying is on July 30.