Neeraj Chopra can participate in Commonwealth Games but there is one condition

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is set to make a comeback in June, but his participation at the upcoming Commonwealth Games is not yet confirmed. Chopra was last seen in action in September 2025 at the World Athletics Championships, where he surprisingly finished eighth, making it the first time he had missed the podium since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The former world champion focussed on nursing injuries and regaining full fitness ahead of a busy 2026 where he is set to participate in multiple big events, including the Asian Games, where he will be defending his gold medal.

However, his participation in the Commonwealth Games which takes place in July-August 2026 in Glasgow will depend on his form.

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Neeraj Chopra's CWG participation not confirmed

National athletics head coach Radhakrishnan Nair revealed on Sunday that Neeraj is fully fit and will be seen on the track soon. His selection, though, will depend on the performances he puts up in the competitions he participates in.

“Neeraj doesn’t have any back issues. He’ll be competing (in June). If he does well, we will definitely select him... provided he performs better than the athletes participating here,” said Nair as quoted by Sportstar.

“Let’s see how he performs in June," he added.

The recent Federation Cup in Ranchi was the last tournament for qualification for the Commonwealth Games. Chopra is currently in Turkiye for rehab for his back injury. He will soon fly to Germany to train.

The Irena Szewiska Memorial in Poland on May 29, the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on June 3, the Ostrava Golden Spike in Czechia on June 16 and the FBK Games in the Netherlands on June 21, are on Neeraj's radar for a potential comeback, according to the Times of India.

In 2022, Neeraj had skipped the Commonwealth Games to focus on the Asian Games. It remains to be seen if he will be available for both competitions this time.

Asian Games is likely to be Neeraj's top priority. Reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem could also be part of the field in Aichi-Nagoya, where the top two of the Paris Games could renew their rivalry.