The ongoing Commonwealth Games may be a watered down version, but when Neeraj Chopra takes the field with the javelin in his hand today, all eyes will be on the much-anticipated event in Glasgow, Scotland.
Add to it the traditional arch-rivalry between India and Pakistan – represented at the CWG 2026 by Arshad Nadeem – and the competition becomes mouth-watering. While Chopra missed the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games due to fitness issues, Arshad claimed the gold before scripting history by winning the Olympic title in Paris in 2024 with a record throw of 92.97 metres – an Olympic and Asian record. The 28-year-old Indian, on the other hand, had clinched a historic gold in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Nadeem, however, has not had the best of build-ups to the tournament, finishing ninth at the Lucerne Silver Meet in Switzerland earlier this month. The Pakistani star will be joined by compatriot Muhammad Yasir in the qualification round.
India, on the other hand, will field Chopra, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh in the event. Two-time Olympic medallist Chopra finally crossed the coveted 90m barrier with a personal best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League last year. Chopra completed a rehab programme in Switzerland and returned to action in 2026 in the Doha Diamond League in June with a best effort of 85.69m.
However, there’s a dark horse in the mix – Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharange Pathirage. The 23-year-old started his career as a fast bowler, but switched to javelin in 2017. The leading throw of the 2026 season so far belongs to the 23-year-old – a massive 92.69m throw at Golden Gala Diamond League meet in Rome last month. He has been consistent this season – 89.37m in Diyagama, 89.28m at the Kip Keino Classic, and a title-winning throw of 88.68m at the Doha Diamond League.
Pathirage became the first Sri Lankan male javelin thrower to qualify for the World Championships finals, where he finished seventh in 2025. He also won gold at the South Asian Championships the same year.
With rain and winds forecast for the competition, the conditions will be tough for the 20 athletes who will compete in the qualification round. The top 12 will advance to the final. The automatic qualification mark is 83m.
