Neeraj Chopra Breaches CWG 2026 Qualification Mark on Return at Doha Diamond League

Doha, June 19: Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra made an encouraging return to international competition after nearly nine months away from action, crossing the qualification mark for the Commonwealth Games 2026 at the Doha Diamond League on Friday (June 19).

Competing for the first time since the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last year, where he finished eighth, Chopra produced an 82.77m effort in his second attempt to secure the CWG 2026 qualification standard. The former Olympic and World Champion overcame a slow start to finish fourth in a high-quality field in at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in the Qatari capital.

Chopra opened with a foul before registering 82.77m in his second attempt. He then produced his best effort of the evening, 85.69m, in the third round. His fourth throw measured 83.45m before he recorded another foul later in the competition.

The Haryana athlete's 85.69m effort now stands as India's best javelin throw of the 2026 season. The performance was particularly significant given Chopra's lengthy absence from competition. Despite being out of action for nine months, the Indian star entered the Doha Diamond League ranked fifth in the world, underlining his status as one of the sport's premier athletes.

Chopra enjoyed a stellar 2025 season, highlighted by his career-best throw of 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League. He also won the Paris Diamond League with 88.16m, claimed victories at the Neeraj Chopra Classic and Ostrava Golden Spike, and finished runner-up at the Zurich Diamond League.

However, his season ended on a disappointing note with an eighth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, which also proved to be his last competitive appearance before Friday's return.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage produced a sensational national record throw of 88.68m to win the competition. Former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada finished second with 86.38m, while American Curtis Thompson claimed third place with 85.99m.

Earlier this month, Rohit Yadav became the first Indian javelin thrower to qualify for the Commonwealth Games 2026 after producing a personal-best 83.76m at the Indian Athletics Series in Ludhiana. Chopra has now joined his compatriot on the list of Indian qualifiers for Glasgow.

While he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Doha, Chopra's comeback delivered a major boost for Indian athletics, with the two-time Olympic medallist showing encouraging signs ahead of the major championships later this season.