NEW DELHI: Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra led a clean sweep for India in men’s javelin throw qualification at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with all three Indian throwers advancing to the medal round in Glasgow on Thursday.Joining the former Commonwealth Games champion in the final are Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, ensuring a full Indian contingent in the title-deciding contest scheduled for Friday.
Neeraj took a measured route to the final
Competing in chilly conditions at the Scotstoun Stadium, Chopra adopted a cautious approach as he continued his comeback from a long-term back injury.The 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medalist opened with an average of 76.28m, placing sixth after the opening round. He improved to 79.61m on his second throw to climb to fifth and, with qualification all but assured, opted to skip his final attempt.Despite receiving the loudest cheers from the crowd while sporting a beanie in the cold Glasgow weather, Chopra focused on making substantial progress rather than chasing a big score.Difficult conditions played a major role in the entire event. With a steady wind and a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius, none of the competitors broke the automatic qualifying standard of 84m, which means that the top 12 athletes advanced to the final based on their ranking.Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, the winner of this season’s Doha and Rome Diamond League, topped the qualifiers with a first-round effort of 82.84m.
Rohit Yadav heats up ahead in the Men’s Javelin Throw Qualifying round. (PTI photo)
Rohit and Yashvir completed India’s clean sweep
The other two Indian representatives also made it safely through the qualification round.Rohit Yadav, who boasts a personal and season best of 87.05m, started with 77.04m before improving to 78.37m in his second attempt. Like Chopra, she skipped her final throw after confirming her spot in the medal round, finishing ninth overall.Yashvir Singh, whose personal best stands at 83.72m, has steadily improved through the competition. The 24-year-old opened with 73.89m, followed it up with 74.45m, and then cleared 78.36m in his final attempt to finish 10th and seal qualification.Chopra is competing in her first Commonwealth Games since winning gold at Gold Coast 2018, having missed the Birmingham 2022 edition due to injury.The former world champion only returned to competition earlier this season after recovering from a persistent lower-back injury that sidelined him since September last year. He returned to the Doha Diamond League in June, finishing fourth with a best throw of 85.69m.With all three Indians safely through, the focus now shifts to the final, where Chopra will be looking to reclaim the Commonwealth Games crown while Rohit and Yashvir will be looking to challenge for podium finishes and complete a memorable outing for India.