How did Neeraj Chopra perform in javelin qualifying round at Commonwealth Games 2026?
All three Indian javelin throwers qualified for the final round
India’s Neeraj Chopra kept his bid for a second Commonwealth Games gold alive by securing qualification to the men’s javelin throw final at the ongoing Glasgow 2026 Games on Thursday, July 30. The Indian star athlete finished fifth in the qualification round with a best throw of 79.61m.
The conditions at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow were cold and windy, with wind speeds of 13 km/h. A total of 18 athletes competed in the qualifying round, with the best 12 athletes progressing to the medal event.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s updated schedule for Day 7 (July 30)
Due to the tough conditions at the venue, none of the athletes were able to breach the automatic qualification mark of 84m. As a result, the top 12 progressed based on their best throws.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, fresh from a title win at the Doha Diamond League, finished top of the standings with a best throw of 82.84m. He was followed by Paris 2024 Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada, who registered a best throw of 81.29m.
South Africa’s Douw Smit was a surprise entry in the top three, finishing with a best throw of 80.64m, followed by England’s Ben East (80.38m).
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026 (CWG) Day 7 Live Updates
Neeraj Chopra opened his campaign with a throw of 76.28m, improving it to 79.61m with his second attempt. Having already qualified for the final, he did not go for a third attempt, finishing fifth.
Interestingly, Neeraj’s arch-rival, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, finished seventh with a season-best throw of 78.63m. As a result, the reigning Olympic champion also sealed a place in the final round.
A major surprise was former Commonwealth Games champion, Kenya’s Julius Yego, who missed out on the final round after finishing 13th.
Related: Commonwealth Games 2026: India’s medal tally after Day 6, 29th July
Three Indians through to javelin final
India will have a strong presence in the javelin throw final. Along with Neeraj, fellow Indians Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh also sealed a place in the medal event. Rohit finished ninth with a best throw of 78.37m, while Yash claimed the 12th and final qualifying spot with 78.36m.
As a result, India will be the only country to have multiple representatives in the final, which will take place in the early hours of Saturday, August 1, according to Indian Standard Time.
Where and when will Commonwealth Games 2026 take place?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
How did Neeraj Chopra perform in CWG 2026 javelin qualifying round?
He finished fifth overall with a best throw of 79.61m, qualifying for the CWG 2026 javelin throw final.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.