Glasgow Commonwealth Games: Neeraj Chopra in peak form as India targets record medal haul
Chopra’s Return and Confidence
Neeraj Chopra, India’s prominent javelin thrower, is set to compete at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after missing the 2022 Birmingham edition due to an injury. The reigning Olympic and world champion aims to secure the title he previously won in 2018. According to chief athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair, Chopra is in “perfect physical shape” and exhibits high confidence for the upcoming games.
Chopra had previously dominated the men’s javelin event at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. A fitness setback led to his withdrawal from the Birmingham 2022 Games. Now, the athlete is back in Glasgow, focused on making his mark in Indian athletics once again.
Speaking to reporters, Chopra stated that his goal is to give his “100 percent” during the competition. He emphasised that he is not focused on specific numbers but rather on performing to his absolute best to avoid any regrets. Representing India remains his primary motivation.
Chopra experienced a challenging period after sustaining a lower back injury before a past World Athletics Championships, where he finished eighth. His appearance in the 2026 season included the Doha Diamond League, where he placed fourth with a throw of 85.69m. Since then, Chopra has concentrated on refining his technique and improving his fitness.
He noted that he is feeling “quite fine” and that work was done on areas where he felt he fell short, alongside a focus on fitness. Having previously surpassed the 90-metre mark in his career, Chopra is driven more by consistency in his throws than by chasing another milestone. He acknowledges that winning medals against the world’s best athletes at major competitions is the biggest challenge, and consistency is as crucial as distance.
Strong Competition Awaits
Chopra’s pursuit of the Commonwealth crown will involve a competitive field in the men’s javelin event. The competition includes several notable athletes:
- Arshad Nadeem (Pakistan), the reigning Olympic champion.
- Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka), who has achieved a throw of 92.62m this season.
- Anderson Peters (Grenada), a two-time world champion.
- Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago), a former Olympic and reigning world champion.
The men’s javelin qualification round is scheduled for July 30 at Scotstoun Stadium, with the medal event set for July 31. India’s Rohit Yadav, who recorded a throw of 87.05m last month, is also considered a medal contender if he can replicate that performance.
India’s Medal Prospects
Chief athletics coach Radhakrishnan Nair expressed confidence that India will surpass its medal count from the 2022 Birmingham Games. The 32-member Indian team aims to secure more medals, including more gold medals, than the eight won in Birmingham.
Nair indicated that the team hopes to win two or three gold medals, which would establish a new record for India at the Commonwealth Games. India has previously won a maximum of two gold medals in a single edition, which occurred at the 2010 CWG in Delhi.
Beyond javelin, other Indian athletes are also considered strong medal contenders. These include long jumpers who have achieved distances above 8.20m, triple jumpers capable of exceeding 17m, and a high jumper who recently cleared above 2.30m. Gulveer Singh in long distance and Parul Chaudhary in the women’s 3000m steeplechase are also among the athletes expected to perform well. Additionally, Tejaswin Shankar could be a contender in decathlon.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
