Neeraj Chopra said the moment “brings back memories” after India delivered a memorable double on the men’s javelin podium at the Commonwealth Games 2026, with Chopra winning silver and debutant Yashvir Singh taking bronze.
Chopra, India’s ace javelin thrower, praised Singh for producing a personal best when it mattered most and said the feeling of being on the podium with a fellow Indian remains special. The result also underlined Chopra’s progress this season, as he described his season-best performance as a sign that his comeback is moving in the right direction with more competitions ahead.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage won the gold medal with a best throw of 89.75m, achieved in his second attempt.
How the men’s javelin medals were decided
Pathirage set the standard early by landing his winning mark of 89.75m in the second round, a throw that ultimately proved decisive for the gold medal.
Chopra finished second with a best throw of 85.83m to secure the silver medal in his second Commonwealth Games appearance. His final attempt ended in a foul, and he immediately realised it was not a clean throw, but his earlier effort was enough to keep him in second place.
The bronze medal produced the biggest surprise of the event as Singh, competing at the Commonwealth Games for the first time, delivered a personal best of 85.41m in his sixth and final attempt. The late surge took him past his previous personal best of 83.72m and sealed his first international medal.
Speaking after the event, Chopra highlighted what the shared podium meant to him and pointed to the significance of Singh’s breakthrough performance on a big stage.
“It brings back memories of the Asian Games, where Saurav and I both won medals. I’m really happy that Yashvir achieved a personal best at such a crucial moment. It feels great to be on the podium together. It’s always a joy to hear the national anthem play. That said, I also achieved a season-best, and my comeback is progressing well. There are more competitions ahead, so I’m very happy,” Chopra told the reporters.
Singh, meanwhile, described the medal as a landmark moment and explained how he stayed composed despite a slow start to the competition. He said he took confidence from seeing that the bronze-medal mark was within reach and decided to go all-in on his final attempt.
“This is my first international medal, and I am overjoyed. Everyone supported me, my family, my parents, everyone… I am truly happy about this… things were going a bit sluggishly at the start. At one point, my throw was around 81.3 meters. I saw that the bronze medal mark was sitting at 82 meters. I told myself, ‘I’ve already thrown 82 meters–my personal best–in this competition, so I can definitely go beyond that.’ Things weren’t going well up to the fifth throw, so for the final attempt, I decided to just go for it and see what happens. That last throw turned out really well,” Singh said.
Singh’s final-round personal best of 85.41m ensured he held off a strong challenge from established names, including Anderson Peters and Arshad Nadeem, as India celebrated a historic athletics moment at the Games.
What the India double means for Chopra and Singh
For Chopra, the silver medal came with a season-best throw of 85.83m and a clear message about his trajectory, as he said his comeback is progressing well and that more competitions are still to come.
For Singh, the bronze represented both a breakthrough international medal and a major personal milestone, achieved in dramatic fashion with a last-attempt personal best. Together, their silver-and-bronze finish delivered a standout India moment in the Commonwealth Games 2026 athletics programme.
