"It feels great to be on the podium together": Neeraj Chopra after historic CWG Javelin double With Yashvir Singh
Glasgow, August 1
India's ace Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expressed happiness after sharing the podium with fellow Indian thrower Yashvir Singh at the Commonwealth Games.
He praised Yashvir for producing a personal best on a crucial occasion and said the moment reminded him of the Asian Games, where Indian athletes had also achieved a medal double.
Chopra stressed that hearing the national anthem on the podium remains a special feeling and said his season-best performance reflects that his comeback is progressing well with more competitions ahead.
India scripted history in athletics at the Commonwealth Games 2026 as Neeraj Chopra clinched the silver medal and debutant Yashvir Singh secured bronze in the men's javelin throw event, marking a memorable 1-2 finish for India on the podium.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage produced a sensational performance to claim the gold medal with a best throw of 89.75m, which he achieved in his second attempt.
"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.
Chopra finished second with his best throw of 85.83m. The Olympic champion's final attempt ended in a foul, and he immediately realised it was not a clean throw, but his earlier effort was enough to secure the silver medal in his second Commonwealth Games appearance.
Singh expressed immense joy after winning his first international medal and thanked his family and supporters for their encouragement. He revealed that the competition did not start as planned, but he stayed confident after noticing the bronze medal mark was within reach.
"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 produced the biggest surprise of the event, winning bronze with a personal best throw of 85.41m in his sixth and final attempt. The 24-year-old, making his Commonwealth Games debut, surpassed his previous personal best of 83.72m and held off a strong challenge from several established athletes, including Anderson Peters and Arshad Nadeem.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The way Neeraj praised Yashvir shows his humility and team spirit. He could have been disappointed about missing the gold, but instead he's celebrating his teammate's achievement. That's the kind of sportsmanship our youngsters need to see more of. Great job both of you! 🥈🥉
While I'm thrilled for India, I have to point out that Neeraj's throw of 85.83m is still well below his personal best. The comeback is progressing, sure, but the real test will be at the World Championships and the Olympics. Hopefully he peaks at the right time. Great to see Yashvir step up though—India's depth in javelin is really impressive now.
Listening to the national anthem in a foreign land is the best feeling any Indian can experience! 🇮🇳 The way Yashvir described his final throw—"I just decided to go for it"—gives me goosebumps. The future of Indian track and field is looking so bright. Neeraj is a legend, but this debutant is going to be a star too.
What a proud day for India! But I wish our media would stop overhyping silver as a huge achievement when we know Neeraj's actual potential is the gold. That said, Yashvir Singh is a revelation—to hold your nerve like that in your first CWG and beat names like Anderson Peters is truly special. Both athletes deserve all the applause they're getting. And yes, a respectful nod to the Sri Lankan who won gold—he was simply better today.
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