Neeraj Chopra wins Silver Medal, Yash Vir Singh adds Bronze at Commonwealth Games 2026
Neeraj Chopra wins Silver Medal: Neeraj Chopra, 28, took home the silver medal after finishing second in the men's javelin throw final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
He entered the event as the favourite and delivered a strong performance, but Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won gold in Glasgow.
Commonwealth Games 2026: This marks Neeraj's second Commonwealth Games medal, following his gold from the 2018 Gold Coast Games.
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Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver Medal: India Celebrates Historic One-Two Podium Finish
Neeraj, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics, finished second with a best throw of 85.83 meters.
Yash Vir Singh won Bronze: Pathirage took gold with a top throw of 89.75 meters. India's Yash Vir Singh also reached the podium, earning bronze with a throw of 85.41 meters.
The third Indian athlete, Rohit Yadav, finished seventh. This was the first time two Indian athletes stood on the podium in the javelin throw event.
Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who won gold at the Paris Olympics, did not reach the top eight in the final and finished ninth overall.
Pathirage Stuns Chopra as Neeraj Settles for Commonwealth Silver
Neeraj opened the competition with a throw of 80.97 meters. After his first attempt, he cheered loudly, showing he was happy with his effort.
Neeraj Chopra 85.83m Throw: It was a strong start, especially since this was his first Commonwealth Games in eight years. On his second attempt, Neeraj threw 85.83 meters and moved into the lead.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage moved into the lead with his second attempt, throwing 89.75 meters and putting pressure on the other competitors.
Feeling the pressure, Neeraj's next throw was 81.29 meters.
After three attempts, he was in second place behind Pathirage. His fourth throw reached 80.73 meters.
Neeraj Chopra wins Silver Medal: With only two attempts left, Pathirage looked set to win gold. Neeraj's last two throws did not improve his standing, so he finished with the silver medal.
Neeraj Chopra's Historic Commonwealth Games Journey
Neeraj Chopra Javelin Throw: Neeraj made history at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with a season-best throw of 86.47 meters.
He won gold and became the first Indian to win the men's javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games.
Chopra was unable to defend his Commonwealth title four years later. He missed the 2022 Birmingham Games due to a groin injury he suffered at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
He then focused on recovery and rehabilitation to avoid further problems.
Neeraj Chopra vs Rumesh Pathirage: Pathirage Triumphs Over Chopra
Men's Javelin Throw Final: Rumesh Pathirage Tharanga from Sri Lanka won the gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 89.75 meters, finishing ahead of double Olympic medalist and former world champion Neeraj Chopra.
Both Pathirage and Neeraj outperformed a strong group of competitors, including current world champion Keshorn Walcott, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, and former world champion Anderson Peters.
Neeraj Chopra Wins Silver Medal: Pathirage had only one legal throw in windy conditions, but it was enough for victory. Neeraj won silver with 85.83 meters, and India's Yashvir Singh took bronze with a personal best of 85.41 meters.
This outcome was surprising, since Pathirage has been the top javelin thrower this season.
Pathirage holds the world-leading mark of 92.62 meters and has won most of his competitions.
In the league, he was the first to throw over 90 meters in 2026. His 92.62-meter throw set a new meet record, a Sri Lankan national record, and the world-leading mark.
After the qualification round, Neeraj Chopra praised Pathirage, calling him a good friend who had a great season. He said he was glad to see Pathirage bring pride to Sri Lanka.
Brief Facts About Rumesh Pathirage
Pathirage switched to javelin with help from coach Tony Prasanna, who introduced him to the sport and always stressed the importance of mastering the basics. Pathirage often credits his coach for shaping both his athletic career and his outlook on life.
As a teenager, Pathirage bowled at about 130 kmph and once reached 134 kmph in the Under-18 category.
He finished second to Eshan Malinga, who now plays for Sri Lanka and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Consistency has always been one of Pathirage's biggest strengths.
Unlike Sumedha Ranasinghe, who was talented but had trouble maintaining his form after crossing 85 meters, Pathirage threw over 82 meters thirteen times in the 2025 season.
Looking back, Pathirage said his strong 2025 season, including a seventh-place finish at his first World Championships, motivated him to work harder and aim higher for the next year.
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