Former Commonwealth Games bronze medalist replaces Neeraj Chopra in Asian Games squad

It was a sad day for the country when Neeraj Chopra announced that his season has ended. India’s Olympic champion has been ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games after sustaining an ankle ligament tear that has ended his season. Meanwhile, the Indian icon will be replaced by another javelin specialist who recently impressed everyone with his performance and is a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist. 

Former Commonwealth Games bronze medalist replaces Neeraj Chopra in Asian Games squad

The Athletics Federation of India confirmed that Yashvir Singh will take his place in the men’s javelin throw team as the governing body released a 77-member track and field team on September 3. The 24-year-old from Rajasthan, who has a personal best of 85.41m and has regularly thrown beyond 80m this year, joins Rohit Yadav in the two-member squad. 

Yadav has been in strong form, recording a personal best of 87.05m at the National Inter-State Championships in June and winning the Indian Athletics Series event in Ludhiana with 83.76m. Both athletes have comfortably cleared the Asian Games qualification mark of 77.87m. The competition will take place later this month in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. 

While Chopra’s absence is a significant blow, officials believe Singh and Yadav still give India realistic medal prospects against a competitive field that includes Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Sri Lanka’s world-leading thrower Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage.

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