Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra has recovered well from the back injury that has kept him from competing this season, and is expected to attempt qualification for the Commonwealth Games within the next 10 days, Athletics Federation of India (AFI) Spokesperson and World Athletics Vice President Adille Sumariwalla said on Saturday.
“Neeraj is now training and he is getting ready to compete probably in the next 10 days or so. He is recovering — recovering well and recovering fast,” Sumariwalla said during a press conference announcing India’s athletics team for the Commonwealth Games.
However, Sumariwalla clarified that Chopra would still have to meet the qualification criteria (82.61m) to secure selection to the Indian team. “He has to re-perform, he has to qualify,” he said.
Recently-crowned NCAA triple jump champion Selva Prabhu has also been included in India’s 32-member contingent, although the AFI expects the 22-year-old to either match or come close to his NCAA-winning effort of 16.92m at the upcoming Interstate Championships to cement his place in the squad.
The 32-member athletics contingent for the Commonwealth Games, comprises 22 men and 10 women all of whom met the strict qualification standard set by the AFI — some of which were higher than the standing Indian National Record in their respective events.
India athletics squad for 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 rela-y), Neeru Pathak (400m/4x400m mixed relay)
(* – subject to their performance before CWG)
Among the men selected are newly crowned National Record-holder Gurindervir Singh (100m) and Animesh Kujur (200m), distance runner Gulveer Singh (5,000m and 10,000m), long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan and pole vaulters Dev Meena and Kuldeep Kumar — who jointly hold the Indian record.
Also in the team are Yashas Shetty and Santosh Kumar in the 400m hurdles, high jumpers Adarsh Ram and Sarvesh Kushare, triple jumpers Praveen Chithravel and Prabhu, shot putters Samardeep Singh and Tajinder Singh Toor and javelin throwers Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh. Tejaswin Shankar, who breached the 8000-point barrier at the Federation Cup, has been included in the men’s decathlon
The women’s contingent features Parul Chaudhary (3000m steeplechase and 5000m), shot putter Manpreet Kaur, discus throwers Seema and Nidhi Rani, and Raveena and Priyanka in the 10000m racewalk.
Vishal TK, who became the first Indian man to breach the 45-second barrier in the 400m has been included in the 4x400m mixed relay alongside Rajesh Ramesh, Hansa Babu, Neeru Pathak and Rashdeep Kaur.
Sumariwalla said India’s primary focus remains the Asian Games, with the Commonwealth Games arriving at a relatively early stage in the season. “Our main focus is the Asian Games. We have trained to peak for the Asian Games. This is too early a competition,” he said, adding that the Federation hopes athletes can build on their domestic form before hitting peak condition later in the year.
With the Interstate Championships between June 24 and June 28 scheduled close to the Commonwealth Games, Sumariwala said the Federation would give some leeway in physically taxing events such as the marathon, race walk and decathlon to ensure athletes are adequately rested. “We are working to a scientific plan,” he said.
Published on Jun 14, 2026
