Neeraj Chopra to return as AFI announces India's Commonwealth Games squad

According to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra has recovered well from the back injury and is likely to begin his 2026 season in the next 10 days.

Neeraj was named on Sunday in the 32-member Indian athletics contingent, including 22 men and 10 women, for the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games scheduled from July 23 to August 2.

“Neeraj is now training and getting ready to compete probably in the next 10 days or so. He is recovering well and recovering fast,” AFI vice-president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed during a press conference on Sunday.

He, however, maintained that Chopra will have to meet the qualification criteria of 82.61m to secure his place in the Indian team. “He will have to attain the qualification standard,” Sumariwalla said.

Chopra was last seen in action at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September last year and is yet to begin his 2026 season.

Our science worked: Sumariwalla

The AFI had set stringent qualifying standards, with the bar set higher than the existing National Records in more than 15 events.

Reacting to the high standards, Sumariwalla said, “Our qualifying standards were not high; they were right. There was a lot of science. We were criticised, but 32 people have qualified, and there were 5-6 athletes close to qualifying. That goes to show our science was right."

"Our main focus is the Asian Games. We have trained to peak at the Asian Games. We hope they can repeat the performances that they have done in the domestic circuit," he added.

Meanwhile, NCAA triple jump champion Selva Prabhu and Neeraj's selection are subject to their performance before CWG.

Selva Prabhu will be in action at the Interstate Championships in Bhubaneswar from June 24-28 and will be expected to land a good jump and cement his place in the squad. 

India's athletics squad for the Commonwealth Games 2026

Men: Gurindervir Singh (100m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Gulveer Singh (5000m/10000m), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Yashas P (400m hurdles), Santhosh Kumar Tamilarasan (400m hurdles), Sarvesh Khusare (High Jump), Adarsh Ram (High Jump), Dev Meena (Pole Vault), Kuldeep Kumar (Pole Vault), Murali Sreeshankar (Long Jump), Lokesh Sathyanathan (Long Jump), Praveen Chithravel (Triple Jump), Selva Prabhu (Triple Jump), Samardeep Singh Gill (Shot Put), Tajinderpal Singh Toor (Shot Put), Neeraj Chopra (Javelin throw), Rohit Yadav (Javelin throw), Yash Vir Singh (Javelin throw), Tejaswin Shankar (Decathlon/High Jump), Vishal TK (400m/4x400m mixed relay), Rajesh Ramesh (400m/4x400m mixed relay), Ansa Babu (400m/4x400m mixed relay).

Women: Parul Choudhary (3000m Steeplechase/5000m), Pooja (High Jump), Manpreet Kaur (Shot Put), Seema (Discus throw), Nidhi Rani (Discus throw), Ravina (10000m race walk), Priyanka (10000m race walk), Rashdeep Kaur (400m/4x400m mixed relay), Neeru Pathak (400m/4x400m mixed relay).