Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
India's star javelin thrower and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will miss the 2026 Asian Games after suffering an injury during training. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has removed him from the national squad and named Yashveer Singh as his replacement.
The development was confirmed by AFI President Bahadur Singh Saggu, who said Chopra sustained the injury while training and would not be able to participate in the continental event. Yashvir Singh, a Commonwealth Games medallist, has been drafted into the Indian team, with officials expressing confidence in his ability to deliver a strong performance.
In another change to the squad, steeplechase athlete Abhishek has also been ruled out due to injury. His place has been taken by Avinash Sable, an Asian Games medallist and one of India's leading distance runners.
Saggu said Sable could also compete in the 5,000m event if he achieves the required qualification standard. His name has already been forwarded to the Asian Athletics Association, and he will travel with the team once approval is received.
The Indian contingent includes six athletes from Punjab — Gurvindervir Singh, Karanveer Singh, Tejinder Pal Singh Toor, Niharika Chaudhary, Manju Rani and Rashdeep Kaur.
According to Saggu, the team was selected based on performances in national trials, recent international competitions and qualification standards set by the federation. He expressed confidence that Indian athletes would surpass their medal tally from the previous Asian Games.
AFI chief also praised Punjab's growing contribution to athletics, saying the federation is working with the state government to provide young athletes with better facilities and greater exposure to competitive events.
