Glasgow, July 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra expressed satisfaction after all three Indian javelin throwers qualified for the men’s final at the Commonwealth Games 2026, despite battling difficult weather conditions during the qualification round.
Chopra secured his place in the final with a best throw of 79 metres, finishing fifth in the qualifying round. He said his objective was to qualify comfortably rather than chase a big throw in adverse conditions.
“It was really cold and windy, but the throw was okay, the 79m throw. The goal was to go in the final and give my best in the final, so I’m happy with the throw,” Chopra said.
Describing the challenging conditions, Chopra said the constantly changing wind direction made it difficult for athletes to judge their approach and release. He noted that no competitor managed to achieve the automatic qualification mark.
“Conditions are not best for javelin throwers. It was really windy, with the direction changing frequently. Lots of throwers struggled today. Nobody touched the automatic qualification mark. It was tough conditions, but we are happy that all three Indians are in the final,” he added.
Looking ahead to the medal event, Chopra said the final promises to be highly competitive, featuring several of the world’s leading javelin throwers, including Paris Olympics medallists.
“It’s a crazy field. It will be a really good final. I hope conditions will be better tomorrow. Everyone looks in good shape,” he said.
Chopra also praised Sri Lanka’s emerging javelin thrower Rumesh, calling him a rising star and saying his success reflects the growing popularity of the sport across South Asia.
He noted that improved facilities, greater awareness and easier access to coaching resources have helped transform javelin in the region. Chopra also credited the increased popularity of the event in India to the boost it received after his historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
“After my Tokyo Olympics gold, there was an immense boost in javelin. I’m happy we now have around 20 Indian throwers who have crossed the 80-metre mark, which is very good for the sport in the country,” he said.
FOLLOW NOW
