India, June 19 -- India's javelin king is back on the runway. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will make his first competitive appearance of 2026 at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, marking a highly anticipated return from injury.

The 28-year-old's last involvement was at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. He has been out of commission since, with a back injury sidelining him in the first half of 2026. Having completed an extensive rehabilitation in Turkiye and training in Switzerland over the past month, he has been named among the nine participants in the Diamond League.

Doha has historically been a happy hunting ground for Chopra. He famously won the title in 2023 with an 88.67 metre throw, before breaking ...