Neeraj Chopra, India’s suprstar javeln thrower, retrned to action after a layoff of nine months due to a back injury at the Doha Diamond League 2026. Even though he was named in the track and field India squad for the Commonwealth Games 2026, Neeraj was yet to officially qualify for the quadrennial event to be held in Glasgow this time. Even though his return to action in Doha did not go as expected for the double Olympic medallist, he did manage to achieve his primary goal and make all of India breathe a huge sigh of relief
To secure a spot for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2026 beginning on July 23, Neeraj Chopra needed to hit a throw of 82.61m. In his second attempt, Neeraj breached the mark with an 82.77m throw and officially qualified for the event. He however finished fourth with a best throw of 85.69m.
How Neeraj Chopra’s Doha Diamond League 2026 Unfolded
There was a lot of pressure on Neeraj Chopra because he had not competed since a disappointing event in Tokyo last year. His start in Doha was a bit shaky. His first throw was a foul, which created some tense moments. He quickly found his focus. On his second turn, he threw the javelin 82.77 meters, which qualified him for the Commonwealth Games.
Once he knew he had qualified, the star athlete looked much more relaxed. His third throw went even further, landing at an impressive 85.69 meters, which ended up being his best throw. He followed that up with an 83.45-meter throw on his fourth try. His fifth was a foul throw, and since he was fourth after these attempts, he was not qualified to take the last throw, as the rules state that only the top three players on the board are allowed to do so. Hence, he finished fourth on his return to action.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, who broke Neera Chopra’s personal best record a few days ago, continued his great for, as he emerged on the top spot of the event with a best throw of 88.68m.