Neeraj Chopra Secures Spot for Commonwealth Games After Impressive Comeback

Neeraj Chopra has successfully qualified for the Commonwealth Games after an impressive performance at the Doha Diamond League, marking his return from an eight-month injury layoff. Despite a rocky start, he showcased his skills with a throw of 85.69 meters. Chopra anticipates tough competition ahead, as many athletes have surpassed the 90-meter mark. He reflects on his previous achievements and expresses confidence in his abilities as he prepares for the challenges that lie ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 20, 2026, 02:01 IST

Chopra Qualifies for Commonwealth Games

Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin star, has successfully qualified for the upcoming Commonwealth Games by surpassing the qualification standard at the Doha Diamond League. This event marked his return to competition after an eight-month hiatus due to a back injury. The 28-year-old athlete initially had a foul throw on his first attempt but quickly regained his form, achieving a throw of 85.69 meters on his third attempt, placing him third after the initial rounds.

In the fourth round, Chopra recorded a throw of 83.45 meters. To secure a spot in the final, he needed to exceed 86 meters in his fifth attempt. Unfortunately, he registered another foul throw, resulting in a fourth-place finish. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage took first place with an impressive throw of 88.68 meters, followed by Grenada's Anderson Peters at 86.38 meters, and American Curtis Thompson with a best of 85.99 meters.

The venue holds special memories for Chopra, as it was here last year that he first crossed the 90-meter mark, although he was later surpassed by Germany's Julian Weber, who achieved a throw of 91 meters.

Chopra Discusses Upcoming Challenges

Before the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj expressed that the forthcoming Commonwealth Games would present significant challenges, with many competitors having thrown over 90 meters. He reflected on his historic throw at the same venue last year, stating, "Technically, it was not that good."

"All of them have thrown 90m, so the Commonwealth Games will not be less competitive than the Olympics or World Championships; it will be a really tough competition," Chopra remarked during a press conference in Doha.

Regarding his 90-meter throw from last year, he shared insights, suggesting he could have achieved an even longer distance. "Technically, that throw was not that good. It was really fast from the arm, but if I had performed better with my lower body, that may have added two to three meters more," Chopra explained.