India’s only Olympics and World Champion Neeraj Chopra has finally made the comeback, he will be in action in Doha Diamond League on 19 – June 2026.

After his disappointing last season where he ended finishing 8th at the World Athletics Championships 2025 with a best effort of 84.03m. Later while talking to nnis Sports Neeraj reveal he had been struggling from Back Injury since a long time.

Last year the 2023 World champion saw almost everything, he breached the 90m mark for the 1st time in his life at the same venue from which he will be starting this season Doha, parted ways with long term coach Bartonietz Klaus, teamed up with World record holder Jan Železný under him he breached the 90m barrier.

But this season he has to show something more as before starting this season he has again did some major changes in his career, he parted ways with Jan Železný and has joined his 1st coach Jaiveer Chaudhary for the upcoming season has left with long partnership with JSW sports and launched his own Athletes Management company Vel Sports.

Although no one had any clue from when he will be starting his season, AFI former president and current spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla while announcing the India’s CWG squad included Neeraj in the squad with a term he will have to breach the qualification which is at 82.61m. Just days back his name appears on the Doha Diamond league Start list with a social story confirming hi participation in the event.

However, if Neeraj is unable to achieve the qualification standard in Doha, there is another route available. He could return to India and compete at the Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships, which will be held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from June 24 to 28, 2026.

The World Athletics ‘Category B ‘national meet would provide Neeraj with a domestic platform to chase the qualification mark and secure his place at the Commonwealth Games. If he succeeds, India could potentially have three men’s javelin throwers at the Games, with Rohit Yadav and Yashvir already having surpassed the qualifying standard earlier this season.

But It will be a hard but best place to start his Season as Neeraj had in past registered his life’s bets throw at the venue:

2025: 90.23m (NR)

2024: 88.36m

2023: 88.67m

2018: 87.43m (NR)

The Venue is known to be the throwers Paradise, as it has produced the 3rd and 5th longest javelin throws of all time, and this years lineup is promising something big is coming this season to from the Qatar’s Capital.

This year Doha Diamond league Line-up along with their PB:

Neeraj Chopra – PB: 90.23m

Artur Felfner – PB: 84.32m

Ahmed Sameh – PB: 83.10m

Rumesh Tharanga – PB: 92.62m

Anderson Peters – PB: 93.07m

Curtis Thompson – PB: 87.76m

Jakub Vadlejch – PB: 90.88m

Keshorn Walcott – PB: 90.16m

Julius Yego – PB: 92.72m

Neeraj will have the challenge, although the Olympics Champion Arshad Nadeem is missing the meet, another 23 Year old South Asian Sri Lanka’s 23-year-old sensation, Rumesh Tharanga Pathiragae will be one to look out for, the current world leader with a massive throw of 92.62m along with some former rivals like Jakub Vadlejch, Anderson Peters etc

Although Doha’s Perfomance will be made the clear picture for Neeraj’s upcoming season whoch holds 2 Major evets like CWG 2026 and Asian Games 2026.

Till then, the Indian fans will be waiting with their fingers crossed for the Spear champion, the golden boy of India

Rohit Yadav produced his finest performance in recent years at the Indian Athletics Series–9, launching the javelin 83.76m with his very first attempt to secure victory and achieve the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The throw marked a new lifetime best for the Indian javelin thrower and made him the first Indian male javelin athlete to breach the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard, an important milestone as athletes begin securing places for Glasgow.

✅ Lifetime Best – 83.76m
✅ CWG 2026 Qualification Standard Achieved
✅ First Indian men’s javelin thrower to achieve the mark

The significance of the performance was evident from the outset. Rohit opened the competition with the winning throw and no athlete was able to better the mark, underlining both his consistency and ability to deliver under pressure.

For Rohit, the result represents an important step in a career that has shown immense promise but has also been disrupted by injury setbacks.

The Haryana thrower first emerged as one of India’s leading javelin prospects after winning the silver medal at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. At the time, he was seen as one of the brightest young talents in Indian athletics and part of a new generation of throwers beginning to raise the standard of the event nationally.

He later represented India at major international competitions, including the 2018 Asian Games, where he finished fifth in a high-quality field.

However, a series of injuries interrupted his progress during crucial years of his career. While several of his contemporaries continued to improve, Rohit spent extended periods away from competition and struggled to rediscover the form that had made him one of the country’s top throwers.

Haryana’s rising javelin thrower Poonam delivered the performance of her young career at the ongoing Indian Athletics Series-9, clinching the women’s javelin throw title with a lifetime best effort of 52.16m.

The mark not only secured her victory but also saw her comfortably surpass the qualification standard for the 2026 World U20 Athletics Championships, earning the opportunity to compete against the world’s best junior throwers.

The breakthrough performance marks another important milestone in the development of one of India’s most promising young field athletes.

Poonam entered the competition as one of the favourites and lived up to expectations with a series highlighted by her winning throw of 52.16m.

Breaking the 52-metre barrier is a significant achievement at the junior level and demonstrates the steady progress she has made over the past season. More importantly, the throw came under competition conditions, showing her ability to perform when qualification and medals are on the line.

With the World U20 standard now secured, Poonam can focus on preparing for the global stage and further improving her performances in the months ahead.

Bangaon’s Emerging Javelin Factory

Poonam trains at Bangaon under coach Hanuman Singh, a centre that has increasingly gained recognition for producing talented young throwers.

Over the last few years, the academy has quietly built a reputation for nurturing athletes capable of competing at national and international levels. Poonam’s latest achievement is another testament to the quality of coaching and athlete development taking place there.

Her qualification for the World U20 Championships adds to the growing list of successes emerging from the training centre and highlights the important role grassroots academies continue to play in India’s athletics ecosystem.

Bhavya Pilania Secures Second Place

The strength of the Bangaon setup was further demonstrated by Bhavya Pilania, who also trains under coach Hanuman Singh.

Bhavya finished second in the competition with a best throw of 45.49m, ensuring a one-two finish for athletes from the same academy.

Having two athletes from the same training group occupy the top two positions reflects both the depth of talent and the effectiveness of the coaching environment at Bangaon.

With a lifetime best, a national-level title, and a World U20 qualification mark now to her name, Poonam has taken a major step forward in her athletics journey.

Seema and Nidhi secured the top two positions in the women’s discus throw at the ongoing Indian Athletics Series–9, with both athletes surpassing the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Seema won the competition with a best throw of 58.16m, while Nidhi finished second with 57.08m. The Commonwealth Games qualification standard for the event stands at 56.85m.

While Seema had already achieved the required mark earlier this season at the Federation Cup, her performance at the Indian Athletics Series–9 further reinforced her credentials ahead of the qualification cycle.

The bigger breakthrough came from Nidhi, whose 57.08m effort saw her clear the Commonwealth Games standard for the first time, putting herself in contention for selection for Glasgow 2026.

The competition also highlighted the improving standard of women’s discus throw in India, with both athletes comfortably exceeding the qualifying mark. Seema’s winning throw was more than a metre beyond the standard, while Nidhi crossed it by 23 centimetres.

With both athletes now having achieved the qualification requirement, attention will shift to upcoming competitions and the selection process as India begins shaping its athletics squad for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Women’s Discus Throw – Indian Athletics Series–9

  1. Seema – 58.16m
  2. Nidhi – 57.08m

CWG 2026 Qualification Standard: 56.85m

Haryana’s rising throwing talent Nishchay continued his impressive run of form by clinching the men’s U20 discus throw title at the Indian Series-9 held in Ludhiana while comfortably achieving the qualification standard for the 2026 World U20 Athletics Championships.

The youngster produced a best throw of 59.12m, securing victory and reinforcing his status as one of India’s most promising field event athletes.

Nishchay’s performance was built on remarkable consistency throughout the competition. His series read:

54.33m, 55.93m, 57.03m, X, 56.81m, 59.12m

The winning mark comfortably cleared the qualification requirement for the World U20 Championships, adding another milestone to what has already been a breakthrough season for the Haryana athlete.

Nishchay arrived at the competition carrying strong momentum after a sensational performance at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships, where he claimed the silver medal and announced himself on the continental stage.

During that competition, he shattered the Indian U20 National Record with a massive throw of 60.10m, becoming one of the few Indian junior discus throwers to breach the coveted 60-metre barrier.

At just U20 level, consistently producing throws close to 60 metres places him among the country’s most exciting young talents. More importantly, he has demonstrated the ability to deliver under pressure in major competitions, a trait that often separates promising juniors from future international performers.

With the qualification standard now secured, Nishchay can shift his focus towards preparing for the 2026 World U20 Championships.

World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav is set to miss the 2026 Commonwealth Games after suffering a major injury setback.

Reports also suggest that he could miss the upcoming Inter-State Championships, a development that would significantly dent his chances of making the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games.

Sachin has been struggling with an elbow injury since the Indian Athletics Series-3 in New Delhi. He is expected to undergo an MRI scan soon, with reports indicating that the injury worsened following his appearance at the Rome Diamond League.

The 2025 World Championships finalist has struggled to find his best form this season, crossing the 80m mark only once in three competitions:

So far, no Indian javelin thrower has managed to breach the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard of 82.61m. The closest has been Shivam Lohakare, who won gold with a lifetime best throw of 81.71m, missing the mark by just 90 centimetres.

A Remarkable 2025 Season

The current struggles stand in stark contrast to Sachin Yadav’s extraordinary 2025 campaign.

He began the season by winning gold at the National Games with a personal best throw of 84.39m. He later claimed silver at the 2025 Asian Championships, finishing behind Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem.

In total, Sachin competed in ten competitions during the 2025 season and crossed the 80m mark on seven occasions.

His finest moment came at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, where he produced a lifetime best throw of 86.27m in the final to finish fourth. He narrowly missed out on a historic medal by just 40 centimetres, with USA’s Curtis Thompson taking bronze with 86.67m.

Among India’s Elite

Sachin’s rise was further recognised when he was included in the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) Registered Testing Pool (RTP) on 2 January 2026 for the Q1 2026 RTP list.

Alongside Neeraj Chopra, Sachin became one of only two Indian athletes to be included in the elite testing pool, highlighting his status among the country’s premier track and field athletes.

Concerns Over India’s Javelin Depth

Sachin’s injury has now raised serious questions about the state of Indian men’s javelin heading into one of the most important years in recent memory.

The year 2026 features two major multi-sport events—the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. Yet, despite India’s recent success in the discipline, no Indian javelin thrower has achieved the Commonwealth Games qualification standard of 82.61m this season.

This has sparked concern not only among Indian fans but also among observers of the global javelin circuit.

Indian Men’s Javelin Throwers: Season Bests in 2026

As of now, only four Indian javelin throwers have managed to cross the 80m mark this season:

Rank Athlete Season Best
1 Rohit Yadav 82.17m
2 Sachin Yadav 81.95m
3 Shivam Lohakare 81.71m
4 Yash Vir Singh 81.61m

The Decline of Established Names

Several elite Indian javelin throwers have also struggled for form.

Sahil Silwal, Vikrant Malik, and Kishore Jena have all failed to cross the 80m mark for nearly two years. The last time all three breached the barrier was at the 2024 Inter-State Championships.

At that competition:

Kishore Jena’s Lost Form

Kishore Jena’s decline has been particularly striking.

The Indian thrower took the javelin world by surprise in 2023, producing a string of personal bests and finishing fifth at the World Athletics Championships, where three Indians reached the final and Neeraj Chopra won India’s maiden World Athletics title.

Jena’s form continued at the 2023 Asian Games, where he pushed Neeraj Chopra all the way and produced a sensational throw of 87.54m, which remains his lifetime best and India’s all-time second-best performance.

The historic result saw two Indians finish on the podium:

Rank Athlete Country Best Throw
1 Neeraj Chopra India 88.88m
2 Kishore Jena India 87.54m
3 Roderick Genki Dean Japan 82.68m

Looking Ahead

India’s men’s javelin programme has witnessed unprecedented success over the past few years, led by Neeraj Chopra and supported by a growing pool of talented throwers. However, injuries, inconsistent performances, and the dip in form of several established names have created uncertainty at a crucial juncture.

With the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games fast approaching, the coming months could prove decisive in determining whether India can sustain its momentum in one of its most successful athletics disciplines.

World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav is set to miss the Commonwealth Games 2026 after suffering an injury setback, according to reports from MyKhel.

Sachin has struggled to find his best form this season, managing to cross the 80m mark only once in three competitions:
• Indian Series–3: Finished 8th with 81.95m
• Federation Cup: Finished 5th with 79.07m
• Rome Diamond League: Finished 8th with 79.18m

So far, no Indian javelin thrower has been able to breach the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualification standard of 82.61m. The closest has been Shivam Lohakare, who won gold with a lifetime best throw of 81.71m, missing the mark by just 90 centimetres.
The reports also suggest that Sachin could miss the upcoming Inter-State Championships, which would significantly dent his chances of making the Indian team for the 2026 Asian Games.

It comes as a major blow for one of India’s leading javelin throwers. Sachin finished fourth at the 2025 World Championships and was considered one of the country’s brightest medal prospects heading into the season.

India’s Sachin Yadav concluded his Rome Diamond League debut without crossing the 80m mark, with his best effort of the evening measuring 79.18m.
The Indian javelin thrower opened with a foul before registering throws of 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m and 75.54m to end his campaign. His series read: X, 79.18m, 77.02m, 76.62m, 75.54m.
The World Championships finalist has now missed the 80m mark in back-to-back competitions after also throwing 79.07m at the Federation Cup 2026. Despite the recent dip in form, Sachin enjoyed a breakthrough 2025 season, finishing fourth at the World Championships and recording a lifetime best of 86.27m.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage stole the spotlight with a sensational performance, clinching the Rome Diamond League title with a massive lifetime best throw of 92.62m.
The mark not only improved his personal best by a significant margin but also established a new world lead for 2026. The throw elevated Pathirage to Asia’s all-time No. 2 performer and the 21st-best performer in world history.
Having entered the competition as the world leader, the 23-year-old Sri Lankan further strengthened his credentials with one of the finest throws ever produced by an Asian javelin thrower.
With his remarkable display in Rome, Pathirage has firmly announced himself as a genuine global medal contender and one of the brightest rising stars in world javelin.

World Championships finalist Sachin Yadav is set to make his Diamond League debut at the Rome Diamond League 2026 today. The 26-year-old athlete will be the only Indian competing at the prestigious meet, with 2020 Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra missing from the start list since he is yet to begin his season.

Sachin had a breakthrough 2025 season, clinching a silver at the Asian Championships in South Korea and securing a fourth-place finish at the World Championships in Tokyo.

He will be up against the Elite line-up:

He will be in action will be in action at the Olympic Stadium in Rome on June 4 at the Diamond League 2026. His event is to begin around 10:40 pm IST.

The Rome Diamond League 2026 will be live-streamed on the YouTube channel of Wanda Diamond League.

In his most recent outing at the Federation Cup 2026 in Ranchi, Sachin finished fifth with a throw of 79.07m, missing the Commonwealth Games qualification mark of 82.61m, which also will be his main target at the Rome.

India’s Nishchay delivered the performance of his young career to win the silver medal in the men’s discus throw at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships 2026 in Hong Kong, setting a new Indian U20 national record in the process.

The Indian thrower produced a massive effort of 60.10m, the first time he has crossed the 60-metre mark in his career. The throw not only earned him a place on the podium but also rewrote the national U20 record books, making it one of India’s standout performances of the championships.

For Nishchay, the competition was a breakthrough moment on multiple fronts. His silver-medal-winning throw was a personal best, a national record and the first 60m-plus mark of his career, underlining the rapid progress he has made this season.

The discus final was one of the highest-quality contests of the entire championships. Kazakhstan’s Maxim secured the gold medal with a throw of 60.45m, narrowly edging out Nishchay for the top spot. Qatar’s Hamad Dhawi took bronze with 59.47m, ensuring that all three medallists finished within a metre of each other.

The level of competition was extraordinary, with the top six finishers all recording personal bests. Such a statistic reflects the intensity of the event and highlights the significance of Nishchay’s achievement in a field packed with athletes producing career-best performances.

Throughout the competition, Nishchay remained composed under pressure. With several athletes improving their marks during the final, he responded with his own record-breaking throw to move into silver-medal position and secure one of the biggest achievements of his career.

His silver medal also contributed to India’s highly successful campaign at the U20 Asian Athletics Championships, where the country finished second on the overall medal table. More importantly, the 60.10m effort establishes a new benchmark for Indian U20 discus throwing and demonstrates that Nishchay has the potential to compete with the best young athletes in Asia.

Nishchay wins silver medal and sets Indian U20 discus national record with 60.10m at Asian U20 Athletics Championships 2026