Neeraj Chopra: Will accept 4th place as I was coming back after injury break

2 min readJun 21, 2026 07:00 AM IST

Neeraj Chopra returned to action after nine months in Doha. (PTI photo)

Paris Olympics silver medalist Neeraj Chopra said his body is still not back to his best, but he would take the fourth-place finish at the Doha Diamond League, as he was making a comeback after nine months. Chopra finished eighth at the Tokyo World Championships, after which he took time off for injury rehabilitation.

In Doha on Friday, Neeraj had three legal throws out of the five with a best of 85.69 metres. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage finished first with 85.69 metres.

“My body is better but not yet back to the old Neeraj. There was no pressure (in Doha), so I didn’t put extra effort because I just wanted to participate. I wanted one good throw. I got a good throw of 85.69 metres. I felt it was good because I was not throwing this distance in training. As I have come back from injury… earlier I wouldn’t have accepted a fourth-place position or the 85-metre throw. But I know from what situation I have made a comeback. Step-by-step I have to progress. And for the kind of preparation I had, the throw was good,” Chopra said after winning the Best Male Athlete of the Year Award at the inaugural Indian athletics awards.

Chopra said his return to competition was delayed because of multiple injuries. Ahead of the Diamond League, Chopra admitted his decision to participate in the Tokyo World Championships wasn’t right as he was carrying an injury.

“It was two to three injuries… Achilles in the blocking leg, back, shoulder, elbow, and the groin was an old problem. I decided to have rehab and take it slow. Normally, throwing starts in January-February, this time we started in May. The good thing is, I am getting back to training,” Neeraj said on Saturday.

Talking about in-form Pathirage, the only one to throw over 90 metres this season, Chopra said the region was doing well.

“Rumesh is talented. I had met him last year and also in Doha. It is good that competition is improving in South Asia. The Commonwealth Games and Asian Games are going to be as tough as the World Championships. New talent will come out,” Chopra said.