Neeraj Chopra ‘very happy’ with India's double podium finish in javelin, lauds Yash Vir Singh & Rohit Yadav
Yash Vir won silver while Rohit bagged bronze
Neeraj Chopra took to social media to express his delight on the achievement of his fellow countrymen, Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav, who secured a double podium finish for India in the men’s javelin throw event at the Asian Games 2026.
Neeraj, who won the men’s javelin throw title at the 2018 and 2022 Asian Games, was forced to withdraw from the Aichi-Nagoya Games just weeks before the start of the tournament. The double Olympic medallist suffered a serious ankle ligament tear in training.
Also Read: Asian Games 2026: Updated medal tally after Day 10, September 29
Despite his absence dealing a serious blow to the Indian athletics contingent, Yash Vir and Rohit ensured two medals in the men’s javelin throw event.
Commonwealth Games medallist Yash Vir, who replaced Neeraj in the squad, won a silver medal with a personal-best throw of 85.72m. Rohit clinched bronze with 84.35m.
Neeraj expressed his happiness at seeing other Indian javelin throwers excelling at international tournaments, congratulating both Yash Vir and Rohit.
“I have always wanted more Indian throwers to compete at the highest level, and seeing Rohit and Yashvir win medals at the Asian Games is something I am very happy about,” Neeraj wrote on X. “Congratulations to both of them, and to Indian athletics!”
This is the second successive Asian Games edition where India won two men’s javelin medals. Neeraj and Kishore Kumar Jena had won gold and silver, respectively, at the Hangzhou 2022 Games.
Yash Vir delivers personal best; Rohit ends medal wait
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Despite being added to the Indian athletics contingent just weeks before the start of the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Yash Vir was in fine form during the men’s javelin throw final at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya.
He opened with an 83.56m throw, briefly going to the top of the standings. He was then overtaken by Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage and Rohit, with the latter registering 84.35m with his third effort.
Related: Athletics at Asian Games 2026: India’s full list of medal winners, medal tally, results
Yash Vir then registered a personal-best effort of 85.72m with his sixth and final effort, effectively securing a podium finish for himself.
Rohit, meanwhile, could not improve upon the 84.35m mark with his final three throws. Still, he managed a third-place finish, ahead of the reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem. This marked Rohit’s first-ever medal at a multi-sport tournament.
The gold was claimed by Pathirage, who revealed after the contest that he missed Neeraj during the final and called his injury “bad luck”.
Who won gold in men’s javelin throw event at Asian Games 2026?
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage won the gold medal with a throw of 88.55m.
Who won silver in men’s javelin throw at Asian Games 2026?
India’s Yash Vir Singh won the silver medal with a personal-best throw of 85.72m.
Who won bronze in men’s javelin throw at Asian Games 2026?
India’s Rohit Yadav won the bronze medal with a throw of 84.35m.
How did Neeraj Chopra react to India’s double podium finish in men’s javelin throw event at Asian Games 2026?
Chopra expressed his delight at the achievement and lauded both Yash Vir and Rohit Yadav for their success at the 2026 Asian Games. “I have always wanted more Indian throwers to compete at the highest level, and seeing Rohit and Yashvir win medals at the Asian Games is something I am very happy about. Congratulations to both of them, and to Indian athletics!”
Why did Neeraj Chopra miss Asian Games 2026?
Chopra was ruled out of the 2026 Asian Games due to injury.
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