Reasons why Neeraj Chopra failed to win gold in javelin throw final at Commonwealth Games 2026
Neeraj Chopra won his second CWG medal on Friday
The stage was all set at the Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow, with India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra looking to regain his Commonwealth Games title in the men’s javelin throw final.
The Indian star, having undergone significant injury rehabilitation, was in peak physical condition. He was understandably under-firing in the qualification round just a day before, doing just enough to finish fifth and secure a place in the final.
On Friday, Neeraj seemed destined to win his first gold medal in over a year since the Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on July 24, 2025. Having missed the Birmingham 2022 CWG due to an injury, he was the heavy favourite to regain the title that he had won at the Gold Coast 2018 Games.
Neeraj, for his part, did everything he could. He managed a season-best effort of 85.83m. Yet, he was some way off the gold medal position, which was secured by Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, and had to settle for a silver medal.
Known for his big-game mentality and the ability to thrive under pressure, Neeraj’s failure to come anywhere close to the gold medal spot was a surprise. Let’s look at some of the reasons that forced him to settle for silver at the CWG 2026.
Related: CWG 2026: India’s updated schedule for Day 9 (August 1)
Pathirage’s historic performance
Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage was widely tipped to be a surprise roadblock in Neeraj’s path to a second Commonwealth Games gold medal. The 23-year-old had performed exceptionally well in the qualification round, finishing top of the standings with a best throw of 82.84m.
Yet, few people, including Pathirage himself, could have predicted his performance in the final. Making his CWG debut in the Glasgow Games, Pathirage never looked out of place among the host of Olympic medallists competing with him.
He produced one of the highlights of the tournament with a monstrous 89.75m throw on his second attempt. Astonishingly, that was his only valid attempt on the night, and it was enough to earn Sri Lanka their first CWG gold since 2006.
Related: CWG 2026: India’s medal tally after Day 8, 31st July
Neeraj still far from 100%
Even though India’s chief athletics coach, Radhakrishnan Nair, claimed that Neeraj was “in perfect shape”, the 28-year-old looked anything but. He might have been injury-free on Friday, but he looked every bit like an athlete hesitant about doing anything that might lead to a recurrence of the lower-back injury that has plagued him for the last couple of years.
He started slowly on the night, registering an 80.97m throw. His second throw of 85.83m proved to be his best effort in the final. Under pressure from Pathirage’s superb second throw, Chopra tried to play catch-up, but ultimately registered two weak efforts – 81.29m and 80.73m – and two invalid throws.
The hostile Glasgow weather
Javelin throwers, taking part in an outdoor event where aerodynamic discipline is key, are often at the mercy of the weather conditions. Glasgow’s weather proved to be a massive challenge for all the athletes, because of the cold temperatures and unpredictable, shifting headwinds
During the qualification round, none of the 18 athletes managed to breach the automatic qualification mark set at 84m. Neeraj himself admitted that the weather conditions were “not best for javelin throwers”.
“Not only cold but also really windy. Just not from the front but also from the side, really hard to process where we have to throw,” he said. “Sometimes you think I’ll throw a specific way, but then the wind comes from the other direction.”
While the winds were slightly better in the final, the temperatures were around 15°C, providing testing conditions for the athletes. Most of the established throwers struggled to replicate their best form. Anderson Peters and Keshorn Walcott finished fourth and sixth, respectively, while the reigning Olympic champion, Arshad Nadeem, was down in ninth place.
Only Pathirage, with his 89.75m throw, managed to overcome the headwinds. The rest, including Neeraj, could not.
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.
What did Neeraj Chopra win at Commonwealth Games 2026?
He won the silver medal in the men’s javelin throw final with a season‑best effort of 85.83m, his second CWG medal after Gold Coast 2018.
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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.