Commonwealth Games 2026: Neeraj Chopra and two other Indian athletes seal final berth

Neeraj Chopra (Pic: File Pic)

In the Commonwealth Games 2026, javelin throw superstar Neeraj Chopra, along with two other Indians, has qualified for the men's final. They finished among the top 12 in the qualification round.

Chopra, who had won the title in 2018, finished in the fifth position with his best throw of 79.61 m. On the other hand, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh concluded the qualification round in the ninth and 10th positions. Rohit registered a throw of 78.37 m, whereas Yashvir covered the distance of 78.36 m.

Chopra was the last thrower in each round; however, he did not showcase his skills in the third and final attempt, as he had already made it to the final.

Since September 2025, the lower back injury has been an issue for Chopra. Shortly after the conclusion of the World Athletics Championships, he sustained a lower back injury. The 28-year-old athlete made a delayed start to the season and made only one appearance in the 2026 season, where he featured in the Doha Diamond League in June. He finished in the fourth place with a throw of 85.69 m.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, who holds the world lead of 92.62m this season, topped the qualification standings with a superb throw of 82.84m, adapting best to the challenging weather conditions. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished second with 81.29m, while South Africa's Douw Smit was third after registering 80.64m.

England's Ben East (80.38m) claimed fourth place ahead of Neeraj, while Australia's Cameron McEntyre (78.91m) was sixth, reigning Olympic champion Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem registered his season best with 78.63m, which he could not better, and qualified for the final with a seventh-place finish in the qualification.

The Bahamas' Keyshawn Strachan (78.60m), Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott (78.26m) and Nigeria's Chinecherem Nnamdi (75.27m) also progressed.

Commonwealth Games 2026: India's medal tally

Currently, in the ongoing edition of the Commonwealth Games, India has a medal tally of 15, which includes three gold, nine silver, and three bronze medals. Topping the list is Australia with a total of 103 medals, which includes 47 gold, 21 silver, and 35 bronze medals.

(With Inputs from Agencies)