Neeraj Chopra reaches Commonwealth Games javelin final despite harsh Glasgow weather

Neeraj Chopra advanced to the men’s javelin final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after a fifth-place finish in the qualifiers, recording a top throw of 79.61 metres at Glasgow’s Scotstoun Stadium. He attributed his performance to coping with unusually cold temperatures and variable winds that often blew from the side rather than the front, complicating athletes’ technique. Chopra was pleased that all three Indian throwers - himself, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh - earned spots in the 12-man final, which will also feature defending champion Arshad Nadeem, world champion Keshorn Walcott, and former world champion Anderson Peters.

He highlighted Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage as a promising newcomer and noted the growing popularity of javelin in South Asia, driven by better coaching and online training resources. Chopra credited his Tokyo Olympic gold medal for sparking wider interest in the sport across India, now boasting around twenty athletes capable of 80-metre throws. He remains hopeful that conditions will improve for the medal contest tomorrow.