Glasgow, August 1, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India’s Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra believes he is steadily moving towards full fitness but admits his comeback from injury is still a work in progress despite clinching the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
The two-time Commonwealth Games medallist produced his season-best effort of 85.83 metres to finish second on Friday. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage claimed the gold medal with a throw of 89.75 metres.
Reflecting on his performance, Neeraj said he was encouraged by the progress made since returning to competition after a lengthy injury lay-off, but stressed that he is yet to regain his peak form.
“I can’t say my fitness is back to what it used to be. I’m getting there gradually,” he said, recalling that the Doha Diamond League in June marked his competitive return. “I was a little better here, but I’m still trying to regain my rhythm through the upcoming competitions.”
The 28-year-old explained that complete fitness significantly enhances confidence and competitiveness at the highest level.
“When you’re 100 per cent fit, you have much more fighting spirit. You feel like you can do anything. But after an injury, you have to be careful with every step,” he said, adding that he had balanced aggression with caution during the Glasgow event.
Neeraj also cited the cold weather as a challenge, saying the conditions prevented the javelin from travelling as expected.
“I had only one decent throw today. I felt the other throws could have been better, but the javelin just didn’t fly. I prefer warmer weather… because I have Indian blood,” he remarked with a smile.
He noted that eventual champion Pathirage also relied on a single quality throw to secure victory.
Looking ahead, Neeraj said the focus remains on continuous improvement rather than immediate results.
“There’s still room to improve. I could have done even better this season. The aim now is to keep improving gradually in the next competitions,” he said.
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