Glasgow [Scotland], July 30 (ANI): India’s Olympic and World Championship gold medalist Neeraj Chopra expressed pleasure for the javelin throw remaining on the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2026 and praised his Sri Lankan counterpart Rumesh Pathirage, who has emerged as the most recent problem to India’s dominance amongst Asian javelin throwers.
Indian javelin throwers Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh secured locations within the males’s javelin throw remaining on the Commonwealth Games 2026 after a difficult qualification spherical affected by windy circumstances in Glasgow on Thursday. Neeraj, who has usually sealed qualification with a single huge throw in main occasions, needed to wait till his second try to safe his place within the remaining.
The former Olympic champion opened with a modest 76.28m earlier than bettering to 79.61m along with his second throw, which positioned him fifth within the qualification standings. He opted in opposition to taking his remaining try after confirming his spot among the many prime 12.
Speaking after his qualification, Neeraj stated, ‘The javelin throw area is fairly good. It can be a extremely good remaining. Hope the circumstances will probably be okay tomorrow. Everyone appears to be like in fine condition; allow us to see tomorrow what occurs.’
Neeraj additionally praised Rumesh, who arrived on the occasion after a headline-grabbing efficiency on the Rome Diamond League in June, producing a monster throw of 92.62m. Pathirage’s efficiency at Rome is the second-best javelin efficiency by an Asian behind Arshad Nadeem’s 92.97m on the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Speaking about Rumesh, Neeraj stated, ‘He throws very well. He is an efficient boy and a very good good friend of mine. This yr, he threw very well. It is sweet that nice javelin throwers are rising amongst our neighbours. It feels actually nice that he may do one thing nice for Sri Lanka.’
With the emergence of Neeraj, Arshad from Pakistan and lately Sri Lanka’s Rumesh, South Asia appears to be the latest and rising javelin throw vacation spot, and the legendary Indian athlete is basically joyful about it. He make clear how persons are getting extra conscious concerning the sport, with the web additionally taking part in a job.
‘I believe javelin is basically well-liked in South Asia now. There are loads of javelin throwers, loads of athletes who’re coaching for it. There is a greater probability of extra athletes coming now. Before, javelin throw was not very well-known, however now folks find out about it and help it, as they realise that there’s a future on this sport,’ he stated.
‘We even have good amenities associated to the game. When I began taking part in, I didn’t know tips on how to plan and prepare for this sport. But with the web, there may be every thing that you would be able to find out about javelin. It is basically nice that individuals know concerning the sport, recognise it and athletes attempt to give their finest too,’ he added.
Neeraj additionally admitted that his gold medal within the Tokyo Olympics 2020, the primary gold by an Indian in a observe and area occasion, gave a lift to the game in his nation.
‘So, I’m joyful. We have some good throwers now, round 20 80-metre throwers, so it is actually good for India,’ he signed off.
Yash Vir Singh started his marketing campaign with a 73.89m throw earlier than bettering progressively by way of the spherical. His remaining try produced his finest effort of 78.36m, serving to him end tenth and e-book his place within the remaining.
Rohit Yadav additionally made it by way of after a constant efficiency. He began with 77.04m and produced his finest throw of 78.37m within the second spherical, which positioned him ninth general. He determined to not take his remaining try, along with his qualification place showing safe.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage topped the qualification standings with a formidable 82.84m throw, whereas Grenada’s Anderson Peters completed second with 81.29m. South Africa’s Douw Smit (80.64m) and England’s Ben East (80.38m) have been the opposite athletes to cross the 80m mark.
Olympics 2024 gold-medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan certified in seventh place with a finest throw of 78.63m, whereas a number of huge names struggled within the tough circumstances.
The remaining qualification listing noticed Neeraj end fifth, Rohit ninth and Yash Vir Singh tenth, with all three Indians advancing to the medal spherical.
They will compete within the finals on Saturday (IST). (ANI)