CWG 2026: Indian troika Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh qualify for javelin finals

Despite difficult weather conditions during qualification round, India's Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh stormed into the men's javelin finals at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Leading the pack was Neeraj Chopra, the two-time Olympic medallist and 2018 Gold Coast champion, who secured his spot by ranking fifth overall with a top distance of 79.61m.

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Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Yash Vir Singh qualify for javelin finals

With tough throwing conditions keeping the entire field from hitting the 84m automatic qualification threshold, the final lineup was determined by taking the top 12 individual performances. Joining Chopra in advancing were countryman Rohit Yadav, whose 78.37m effort placed him ninth, and Yash Vir Singh, who trailed right behind in tenth place with a 78.36m throw.

The trio will return to the runway for the championship throw-down early Saturday morning, with the final scheduled to kick off at 12:45 AM IST.

Slotted at the very end of the throwing order, 28-year-old Chopra opted out of his final attempt, having already locked in his place for Thursday’s medal showcase. His advancement came during an uncompromising session where athletes wrestled with an 18°C chill and a persistent headwind, factors that kept every competitor from hitting the 84m automatic standard and forced officials to fill the 12-finalist roster through overall standings.

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The harsh weather took a visible toll on the field's performance, with just four men managing to send the spear past the 80m line. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage—riding high on recent Diamond League victories in Doha and Rome—led the pack early with a top throw of 82.84m, followed by Grenadian powerhouse Anderson Peters, the previous edition's silver medalist, who took second with an 81.29m mark.

The remaining qualifying spots saw a mix of decorated heavyweights and notable casualties. Reigning Paris Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan secured seventh with a 78.63m effort, while former World Champion Keshorn Walcott squeezed through in 11th place. However, Kenya's veteran Julius Yego—a former Commonwealth champion and 2022 bronze medalist—suffered an early exit, falling just short in 13th place with a best mark of 74.50m.

Leaderboard:

Rumesh Pathirage (SRI) - 82.84m
Anderson Peters (GRE) - 81.29m
Douw Smit (RSA) - 80.64m
Ben East (ENG) - 80.38m
Neeraj Chopra (IND) - 79.61m
Cameron McEntyre (AUS) - 78.91m
Arshad Nadeem (PAK) - 78.63m
Keyshawn Strachan (BAH) - 78.60m
Rohit Yadav (IND) - 78.37m
Yash Vir Singh (IND)- 78.36m
Keshorn Walcott (TTO) - 78.26m
Chinecherem Nnamdi (NIG) - 75.27m