India, Aug 01 : India’s athletics contingent achieved a landmark feat at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and debutant Yashvir Singh secured silver and bronze respectively in the men’s javelin throw, marking India’s first-ever medal double in the event. While Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage claimed gold with a stunning 89.75m throw, the Indian duo ensured a memorable finish by standing together on the podium.
After the competition, Chopra expressed delight at sharing the podium with fellow Indian Yashvir Singh, whose personal best effort earned him a maiden international medal. The two-time Olympic medallist said the achievement reminded him of India’s medal-winning performance at the Asian Games and described hearing the national anthem during the medal ceremony as a moment of immense pride.
Reflecting on his own performance, Chopra said his season-best throw of 85.83m was a positive sign that his recovery and return to top form are progressing in the right direction. He added that with several important competitions still ahead, he is optimistic about building on his recent performances.
“It brings back memories of the Asian Games, where Saurav and I both won medals. I’m really happy that Yashvir achieved a personal best at such a crucial moment. It feels great to be on the podium together. It’s always a joy to hear the national anthem play. I also achieved a season-best, and my comeback is progressing well. There are more competitions ahead, so I’m very happy,” Chopra said.
Chopra’s best effort of 85.83m came before his final attempt ended in a foul. Despite missing out on improving his mark, the throw was enough to secure the silver medal in only his second Commonwealth Games appearance.
The biggest talking point of the competition, however, was the rise of 24-year-old Yashvir Singh. Competing in his maiden Commonwealth Games, the young Indian delivered an outstanding throw of 85.41m on his sixth and final attempt, surpassing his previous personal best of 83.72m to clinch bronze.
Singh revealed that the competition had not started according to plan, but he remained confident after noticing that the bronze medal mark was within his reach. Trusting his ability to produce a big final throw, he went all out in his last attempt, which ultimately secured him a place on the podium.
“This is my first international medal, and I am overjoyed. My family and everyone who supported me believed in me. I knew I had already thrown beyond 82 metres before, so I stayed confident. Things weren’t going well until the fifth attempt, but I decided to give everything on the final throw, and it worked perfectly,” Singh said.
Singh’s remarkable effort saw him edge past several established names in world athletics, including former world champion Anderson Peters and Olympic medallist Arshad Nadeem, underlining his emergence as one of India’s brightest javelin prospects.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage claimed the gold medal with a superb second-round throw of 89.75m, producing the best performance of the competition. Nevertheless, India’s historic double podium finish stood out as one of the defining moments of the athletics programme, highlighting the country’s growing depth in the javelin discipline beyond its established stars.
