Neeraj Chopra settled for the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw event at the Commonwealth Games 2026 with a best effort of 85.83m in the final at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, on Friday.
The Indian athlete, throwing against strong headwinds, finished only behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who peaked at 89.75m with his second throw – interestingly his only valid effort in his six attempts.
It was also Sri Lanka’s first gold medal at the CWG since 2006 and the first-ever in athletics.
The podium at Glasgow 2026 was the 28-year-old Neeraj Chopra’s second Commonwealth Games medal after his gold at Gold Coast 2018. Neeraj couldn’t defend at Birmingham 2022 due to an injury.
India’s Yash Vir Singh logged a new personal best of 85.41m, eclipsing his previous mark of 83.72m from earlier this season, with a clutch final throw to claim the bronze medal on his CWG debut.
Neeraj, who owns the Indian javelin national record of 90.23m, began with a 80.97m throw before turning up with a season’s best of 85.83m with his second throw to move up to the top of the standings only to lose the perch to Rumesh later in the round.
Neeraj’s javelin landed at the 81.29m mark in the third round, after which four of the 12 finalists were eliminated.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the defending champion, was one of the four who failed to make the cut for the final three rounds. The Paris 2024 Olympics gold medal winner managed a best throw of 77.41m with his second throw to finish ninth.
Neeraj’s final three attempts read: 80.73m, no mark and no mark.
Former world champion Anderson Peters (83.88m) of Grenada finished fourth while reigning world champion, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (82.55m), came in sixth.
Rohit Yadav, the third Indian in the final, was seventh with 81.56m.
Commonwealth Games 2026 javelin throw final results
- Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI) – 89.75m
- Neeraj Chopra (IND) – 85.83m
- Yash Vir Singh (IND) – 85.41m
- Anderson Peters (GRN) – 83.88m
- Douw Smit (RSA) – 82.88m
- Keshorn Walcott (TTO) – 82.55m
- Rohit Yadav (IND) – 81.56m
- Ben East (ENG) – 81.12m
- Arshad Nadeem (PAK) – 77.41m
- Chinecherem Nnamdi (NGR) – 76.29m
- Cameron McEntyre (AUS) – 72.34m
- Keyshawn Strachan (BAH) – 70.39m
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/commonwealth-games-2026-javelin-throw-final-report-neeraj-chopra
