Men Archives | Athletics India

India produced a strong performance in the men’s javelin final at the Nagoya Asian Games, with Yashvir Singh winning silver and Rohit Yadav securing bronze.

Yashvir pushed Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage throughout the competition and briefly held the lead. However, Pathirage produced a winning throw of 88.55m to claim gold.

Yashvir secured silver with a personal best of 85.72m, while Rohit added bronze with 84.35m. The result gave India two athletes on the same Asian Games javelin podium.

Yashvir Singh Sets Personal Best to Win Silver

Making his Asian Games debut, Yashvir delivered an impressive performance in what has been a rapid rise this season.

His first three throws measured 83.56m, 82.99m and 82.42m. These efforts kept him firmly in medal contention.

His fourth attempt of 84.31m moved him closer to the top of the standings. He then produced 85.14m in the fifth round.

Yashvir saved his best for the final attempt, throwing 85.72m to set a new personal best and confirm his silver medal.

At one stage, the Indian briefly moved to the top of the standings. However, Pathirage responded with his winning throw of 88.55m to secure gold.

Rohit Yadav Adds Bronze With Consistent Throws

Rohit Yadav also delivered a consistent performance in the final.

His best throw of 84.35m came in the third round, following efforts of 77.25m and 82.40m.

He then recorded 82.16m and 82.15m before his final attempt was marked as a foul.

Four of Rohit’s five valid throws exceeded 82 metres, underlining the consistency of his performance.

His bronze medal added another major championship achievement to a season in which he had established himself as one of India’s leading javelin throwers.

India’s Javelin Legacy at the Asian Games

The two medals are significant in the context of India’s recent history in men’s javelin.

The event has become one of the country’s strongest athletics disciplines over the past decade, largely driven by Neeraj Chopra.

Chopra won India’s first Asian Games gold in men’s javelin at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, throwing a then-national record of 88.06m.

Before his victory, India’s previous Asian Games medal in the event had come in 1982. Gurtej Singh won bronze in New Delhi.

Chopra successfully defended his title at Hangzhou in 2023, winning gold. Kishore Jena took silver, giving India a one-two finish.

Yashvir Continues His Strong Season

Neeraj Chopra was absent from the Nagoya Asian Games after an ankle ligament injury ruled him out.

That left Yashvir and Rohit to lead India’s challenge. Both athletes responded with podium finishes.

Yashvir’s silver continued a remarkable season for the 25-year-old.

He had already won bronze at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, producing a then-personal best of 85.41m with his final throw. That competition featured a podium alongside Chopra and Pathirage.

In Nagoya, Yashvir improved his personal best to 85.72m, moving from Commonwealth Games bronze to Asian Games silver.

Rohit Yadav Adds Another Major Medal

For Rohit, the bronze medal adds another major championship achievement to his season.

The Athletics Federation of India lists his 2026 season best at 87.68m. Meanwhile, Yashvir entered the Asian Games with an 85.41m best.

Rohit’s performance in Nagoya was built on consistency, with four valid throws exceeding 82 metres.

Men’s Javelin Final Standings

Position	Athlete	Country	Distance
Gold	Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage	Sri Lanka	88.55m
Silver	Yashvir Singh	India	85.72m (PB)
Bronze	Rohit Yadav	India	84.35m

India Wins Two Javelin Medals in Nagoya

India leaves the Asian Games with two medals in men’s javelin, maintaining its presence at the top of the event despite the absence of its reigning champion.

For Yashvir, it was a debut silver and a new personal best. For Rohit, it was a bronze built on consistency.

Two Indian athletes, two medals, and another strong showing for Indian javelin.

Yashvir Singh wins silver and Rohit Yadav wins bronze in the men's javelin throw at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya.

Nagoya: Tajinderpal Singh Toor had to wait until his fifth attempt to make his mark. The defending Asian Games champion then produced a throw of 20.64m to win silver at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Toor was in third place after four rounds. However, his fifth throw moved him into second, just 17 centimetres short of gold.

The silver also secured his third consecutive Asian Games medal, adding another achievement to the career of one of India’s most decorated field athletes.

Toor Delivers When It Matters Most

For Toor, the medal was about more than another podium finish.

Questions had surrounded his selection and fitness ahead of the Games. He had also faced public accusations of faking injuries. Those claims were contested, but they added to the attention surrounding the 31-year-old in the build-up to Nagoya.

Once the competition began, Toor had the opportunity to respond through his performance.

He did so with a throw of 20.64m.

His series showed a difficult start, with throws of 20.06m, 20.26m, 19.77m and 19.71m in the first four rounds.

However, with the podium still within reach, he produced his best effort on the fifth attempt. His final throw was a foul.

The fifth-round effort proved decisive in securing silver.

Third Consecutive Asian Games Medal

Toor has now won medals at three successive editions of the Asian Games.

He claimed gold in Jakarta in 2018 and defended his title in Hangzhou in 2022. He has now added silver in Nagoya.

The result highlights his consistency at the continental level. He has remained among Asia’s leading shot putters for nearly a decade.

Although he could not secure a third consecutive gold, the silver extends his impressive record at the Games.

From a Village in Punjab to Asian Games Champion

Toor’s journey began in Khosa Pando village in Moga, Punjab, where he grew up in a farming family.

He initially wanted to become a cricketer. However, his father encouraged him to take up shot put.

Toor later joined the Indian Navy through its sports quota and built his career around the event.

His first major international breakthrough came in 2017, when he won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar.

A year later, he delivered the performance that established him as one of India’s leading throwers.

The 2018 Asian Games Gold That Changed His Career

At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Toor threw 20.75m to win gold.

The performance also broke both the Asian Games and Indian national records. It was India’s first athletics gold medal at those Games.

The victory came after a disappointing eighth-place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

His response in Jakarta marked a major turning point in his career.

Toor went on to win the Asian Championships title in 2019. He also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics after producing a massive 21.49m throw in 2021, which set national and Asian records at the time.

Setbacks, Comebacks and a National Record

Toor’s career has also included difficult moments.

At the Tokyo Olympics, he competed with a heavily bandaged shoulder but failed to reach the final.

However, he returned to the top in the years that followed.

He won gold medals at the Asian Indoor and Asian Championships before retaining his Asian Games title in Hangzhou.

His current national record stands at 21.77m, set in 2023.

That mark reflects the level he has reached during his career. In Nagoya, however, his immediate goal was not to break the national record. It was to secure a place on the podium.

Fifth-Round Throw Secures Silver in Nagoya

For four rounds, a medal remained uncertain.

Then came the fifth attempt.

20.64m. Silver.

It was not the gold Toor had won at the previous two Asian Games. Nevertheless, the result extended one of the most impressive medal runs in Indian athletics.

After facing questions ahead of the competition, Toor delivered his response on the throwing circle.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor has secured his third consecutive Asian Games medal, adding a silver in Nagoya to his two previous golds.

Tajinderpal Singh Toor competing in the men's shot put at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.

Nagoya: Damneet Singh finished ninth with a best throw of 67.56m, while Praveen Kumar placed 11th with 65.24m in the men’s hammer throw final at the Asian Games. Both Indians were making their debut at the continental Games.

For Damneet, the result marked a disappointing end to a season in which he had demonstrated the ability to compete at a significantly higher level.

Damneet Singh Falls Short of 70m Mark

The 22-year-old produced the biggest breakthrough of his senior career in March at the Indian Open Throws, where he crossed the 70m mark for the first time, recording three throws beyond the distance in the same competition.

He opened with 70.64m, followed by 70.21m on his third attempt and 70.04m on his fifth.

The performance also took him beyond the Asian Games qualification standard of 69.12m, marking a significant milestone for a thrower working to establish himself at the senior level.

However, maintaining that level proved difficult in the months that followed.

Eighth Place at Németh Pál Memorial in Hungary

In August, Damneet competed at the Németh Pál Memorial, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meeting in Hungary.

He finished eighth in the eight-athlete final with a best throw of 66.67m.

His series included 66.67m, 65.92m, 65.52m and 66.14m, followed by two fouls.

Croatia’s Matija Gregurić won the competition with a throw of 74.85m.

Damneet Finishes Ninth at Asian Games

At the Asian Games, Damneet once again fell short of the 70m mark.

His opening throw of 67.56m remained his best effort, leaving him outside the top eight and ending his competition after three attempts.

Praveen Kumar, who was also making his Asian Games debut, recorded 65.24m to finish 11th.

Both Indians fell short of the performances they would have wanted in the final.

Damneet’s 70m Throws Offer Encouragement

Despite the disappointing result in Nagoya, Damneet’s season includes a significant marker of progress.

His three throws beyond 70m at the Indian Open Throws in March demonstrated that he has the distance required to compete at this level.

The next challenge is consistency.

The Asian Games marked Damneet’s first appearance at a major continental championship. While his ninth-place finish was not the result he would have wanted, his performances earlier in the season showed that the 70m barrier is within his reach.

For now, the men’s hammer throw final in Nagoya ends with 67.56m and ninth place for Damneet Singh, while Praveen Kumar finishes 11th with 65.24m.

Neither performance was enough to reach the top eight, but the experience gives both first-time Asian Games competitors another reference point as they continue to develop.

Damneet Singh and Praveen Kumar compete in the men's hammer throw at the Asian Games 2026

Delhi’s Nirbhay Choudhary produced the biggest performance of his career at the Indian Athletics Series Final, breaking the men’s hammer throw National Record with a lifetime best of 71.02m in New Delhi.

Choudhary surpassed the previous national record of 70.73m, set by Neeraj Kumar in 2016, ending a 10-year wait for a new national mark.

From 66.67m to a National Record

The record-breaking throw represents a remarkable improvement for the 21-year-old.

At Indian Athletics Series-14, Choudhary won the hammer throw with 66.67m. The AFI results listed 70.73m as the standing national record at the time.

Just weeks later, he added more than four metres to that mark. He also crossed the 70m barrier for the first time in the competition.

His latest performance underlines the progress he has made since his junior years. He had already established himself as one of India’s leading young hammer throwers.

A Unique Journey Into Hammer Throw

Choudhary’s development is particularly intriguing.

According to the information provided, he trains at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi. He has also largely learned the technical aspects of hammer throwing through YouTube, without a specialised hammer throw coach.

That makes his progression to a 71.02m national record even more notable.

Nirbhay Choudhary breaks India’s hammer throw national record with 71.02m

By Sushant Singh

Neeraj Chopra has ended his 2026 season due to an ankle injury, meaning he will miss the upcoming Asian Games 2026.

He informed everyone through a social media post, announcing that a ligament tear in his ankle suffered during training will bring his 2026 season to an early and painful end.

Three major competitions were still on his calendar:

5 September – Diamond League Final
13 September – World Athletics Ultimate Championship
28 September – Asian Games 2026

Why Neeraj Chopra’s Absence Matters

The Asian Games are particularly important from India’s perspective, as the Indian athletics contingent came back with a 100+ medal haul in the last edition, with athletics bringing home the biggest share — 29 medals in total.

In men’s javelin, India won two medals, with Neeraj Chopra winning gold and Kishore Jena taking silver.

But with Neeraj Chopra now ruled out, the big question is: who will represent India in men’s javelin?

Rohit Yadav

Rohit Yadav has already been named in the provisional Asian Games squad.

He recently produced a massive lifetime best of 87.68m, making him India’s second-best thrower of all time. His 87.68m is currently the third-best throw in Asia this season.

His name was already in the provisional squad, but the question now is: who will replace Neeraj?

Yashvir

Yashvir could be another strong option.

He finished second in the Asian Games qualifier at the Inter-State Championships with 83.72m and later won Commonwealth Games bronze with a lifetime best of 85.41m, currently the fourth-best throw in Asia this season.

However, Yashvir’s name is not included in the current Asian Games long list.

Now, it remains to be seen whether AFI, SAI or IOA can replace Neeraj’s name with Yashvir’s ahead of the Asian Games.

The good news is that the Athletics Federation is yet to finalise the team for the Asian Games 2026, which means there could still be some changes.

But whether they can replace Neeraj’s name with Yashvir’s — that is something we will have to wait and find out.

Neeraj Chopra ruled out of Asian Games 2026 due to ankle injury

India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra has been forced to bring his 2026 season to an early end after suffering a ligament tear in his ankle during training, ruling him out of the biggest competitions still remaining on his calendar.

The injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Chopra, who had entered the final stretch of the season in strong form. Just recently, he produced a season-best 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League, finishing second behind Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage by just nine centimetres.

Chopra was scheduled to compete in three major events in September:

5 September — Diamond League Final
13 September — World Athletics Ultimate
28 September — Asian Games 2026

His withdrawal from the Asian Games is particularly significant for India. Chopra was the reigning Asian Games champion, having won gold in the men’s javelin at the 2022 edition in Hangzhou.

India had enjoyed a historic 1-2 finish in the event in 2022, with Chopra taking gold and Kishore Jena winning silver. Chopra’s absence therefore leaves a major void in India’s javelin campaign in 2026.

The setback also comes as India looks to build on its impressive athletics performance at the previous Asian Games. At the 2022 edition, Indian athletes won 29 athletics medals, including six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze.

For Chopra, the immediate priority will now be recovery rather than competition. After a season that saw him continue to compete at the highest level and reach the 88-metre mark again in Lausanne, his campaign ends just as the most important battles were approaching.

The medals will have to wait. For now, the javelin runway can wait too.

Neeraj Chopra is set for a packed September, with three major competitions lined up against some of the world’s best javelin throwers.

Neeraj, who has returned from a long lay-off due to injury, registered a season-best throw of 88.05m, India’s best throw of the season.

5 September | Diamond League Final, Brussels

After the Zurich Diamond League results, India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra has secured his place in the Diamond League Final in Brussels, the final leg of the 2026 Diamond League season.

He has qualified alongside five other javelin throwers so far: Rumesh Pathirage, Anderson Peters, Keshorn Walcott, Curtis Thompson, Julius Yego and Neeraj Chopra.

13 September | World Athletics Ultimate Championships, Budapest

Neeraj Chopra’s second-place finish with 88.05m at the Lausanne Diamond League has moved him into the top eight in the World Athletics rankings for qualification to the World Athletics Ultimate Championships.

His Lausanne performance earned him:

88.05m:1216 points
2nd place: +120 points
Total: 1336 points

That pushed Neeraj into the seventh qualifying position.

The final list of athletes eligible for entry through the World Rankings will be determined on 3 September 2026.

28 September | Asian Games, Aichi-Nagoya

Neeraj is expected to represent India in the men’s javelin at the Asian Games, where he will be aiming for another major title.

He is expected to face strong competition from Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and Sri Lankan javelin sensation Rumesh Pathirage.

Three major competitions. Three elite fields. One very busy month for India’s golden boy.

Sri Lanka has emerged as the new powerhouse of Asian javelin throwing, seizing the lead in the subcontinent and asserting global dominance through the astonishing rise of Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage.

For years, the subcontinental javelin narrative centred on the battle between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. However, the 2026 track and field season has witnessed a seismic shift. 23-year-old Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage has redefined South Asian athletics by mounting one of the most remarkable campaigns in modern javelin history.

With a world leading distance of 92.62m set in Rome and a recent 92.07m victory at the Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League, Pathirage has firmly taken the mantle as the subcontinent’s premier javelin thrower. His achievements have rewritten national and regional history while creating immense pressure on established global icons.

Pathirage’s ascension is not a flash in the pan. At the 2026 Weltklasse Zürich Diamond League meeting, he put on a clinical display of throwing under immense competitive conditions. Facing a world-class field that included two-time World Champion Anderson Peters and former Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, the Sri Lankan built an early lead with attempts of 88.23m and 89.90m before unleashing a monster 92.07m throw on his final attempt.

With this performance, Pathirage became only the fourth javelin thrower in history to breach the 92-meter mark twice in the same calendar year -joining legendary figures Jan Železný, Johannes Vetter, and Aki Parviainen.

Furthermore, Pathirage has dominated his direct subcontinental competition in 2026, holding multiple victories over two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, including a tight victory in Lausanne by nine centimetres. With a Commonwealth Games gold medal in Glasgow already secured, his consistency across 12 major meets marks a structural shift in regional track and field.

Sri Lanka’s sudden dominance at the highest level of field events represents a transformation in international athletics. Pathirage leads the Diamond League qualifications standings with 39 points, standing well clear of established global champions.

As the Diamond League Final approaches in Brussels, all eyes are on the Sri Lankan star. His ability to launch throws consistently into the 88m to 92m range makes him the clear favourite heading into the championship phase of the season. Sri Lanka is no longer just participating in global athletics; it is setting the benchmark for the rest of the world to follow.

Men’s Javelin Throw Final Results

1. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI) – 92.07
2. Anderson Peters (GRN) – 86.93 SB
3. Dawid Wegner (POL) – 85.16 SB
4. Keshorn Walcott (TTO) – 83.02
5. Julius Yego (KEN) – 81.66
6. Marc Anthony Minichello (USA) – 80.38
7. Curtis Thompson (USA) – 80.31
8. Thomas Röhler (GER) – 79.86
9. Simon Wieland (SUI) – 75.35
10. Patriks Gailums (LAT) – 74.30

Rohit Yadav delivered the standout performance of the World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meet in Bhubaneswar, winning the men’s javelin throw with a sensational 87.68m — a new lifetime best and one of the biggest throws in Indian athletics history.

The Uttar Pradesh thrower produced the massive mark on his sixth and final attempt, finishing well clear of compatriot Yashvir Singh, who secured silver with 82.94m.

Men’s Javelin Throw — Final

🥇 Rohit Yadav 🇮🇳 — 87.68m
🥈 Yashvir Singh 🇮🇳 — 82.94m
🥉 Sumedha Ranasinghe 🇱🇰 — 80.29m
4️⃣ Arshdeep Singh 🇮🇳 — 78.82m
5️⃣ Anand Singh 🇮🇳 — 78.34m
6️⃣ Ravi Rathushan 🇱🇰 — 77.24m
7️⃣ Douw Smit 🇿🇦 — 76.79m

Rohit’s winning throw places him second on India’s all-time list, behind only Neeraj Chopra’s national-record 90.23m. It also represents a major leap forward for the 2026 season, with Rohit adding nearly a metre to his previous personal best of 87.05m.

The 87.68m effort also puts Rohit among the leading javelin throwers globally this season, making his performance one of the biggest highlights of India’s first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Silver-level meet.

Yashvir Singh further strengthened India’s dominance in the event by crossing 82 metres for silver, while Sri Lanka’s Sumedha Ranasinghe completed the podium with an impressive 80.29m.

Rohit’s breakthrough performance adds another exciting chapter to India’s growing strength in men’s javelin throw. With Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh all producing world-class marks this season, India’s javelin depth has rarely looked stronger.

Sri Lanka’s rising javelin star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his remarkable 2026 season by edging India’s Neeraj Chopra by just nine centimetres to win the men’s javelin throw at the Lausanne Diamond League.

Pathirage produced a best throw of 88.14m, while Chopra responded with a season-best 88.05m to finish second. Grenada’s Anderson Peters completed the podium with 86.69m.

The contest quickly turned into another fascinating battle between the two South Asian stars. Chopra opened with 83.54m before finding a huge improvement in his second attempt. His 88.05m temporarily moved him into the lead and gave him a chance to finally get the better of Pathirage this season.

But the Sri Lankan had an immediate answer.

Pathirage launched his third attempt to 88.14m, reclaiming the lead by just nine centimetres. Neither athlete could improve their marks in the remaining rounds, leaving Pathirage with another major victory over Chopra.

The result extends Pathirage’s unbeaten record against Chopra in their three meetings this season. He previously defeated the Indian at the Doha Diamond League, where he threw 88.68m, before again finishing ahead of Chopra at the Commonwealth Games.

For Chopra, however, Lausanne provided plenty of encouragement. His 88.05m was his best throw of the 2026 season and his strongest performance in more than a year, marking an important return to the 88-metre range.

With the Diamond League Final qualification race also in focus, the silver medal and season-best mark give Chopra valuable momentum heading into the remaining part of the season.

For Pathirage, meanwhile, Lausanne was yet another statement victory. At just 23, the Sri Lankan has now emerged as one of the biggest forces in world javelin—and his growing rivalry with Chopra is becoming one of the defining stories of the 2026 season.