Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will spearhead India's charge for a bigger medal haul in Commonwealth Games athletics as he seeks his second gold in the men's javelin throw, beginning here on Monday. The 28-year-old Indian superstar faces a formidable field that includes reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and world leader Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka.
Neeraj Chopra Faces Formidable Competition
Chopra, who won gold at the 2018 Gold Coast Games with a throw of 86.47m, missed the 2022 edition due to injury. He arrives in Glasgow after a delayed start to the season, hampered by a lower back injury since September 2025. At the Doha Diamond League on June 19, he finished fourth with a modest 85.69m. Following a month of rehabilitation and training at his base in Bienne, Switzerland, Chopra reached Glasgow on Friday in confident mood. Indian athletics head coach Radhakrishnan Nair declared that Chopra is in "perfect physical shape".
The men's javelin competition features a star-studded field that rivals Olympic and World Championships quality. Besides Chopra, Nadeem and Pathirage, the lineup includes reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, 2022 CWG silver medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada, and Julius Yego of Kenya. India also fields Rohit Yadav, who ranks second among Commonwealth season leaders with 87.05m, and Yashvir Singh.
Pathirage enters as the favourite for gold, having thrown a world-leading 92.62m to win the Rome Diamond League title. The 23-year-old Sri Lankan has recorded three additional throws beyond 88m and has won two Diamond League titles this season. Nadeem, however, has struggled recently, managing only 78.47m at Luzern, Switzerland, on July 16. Peters has a season's best of 86.38m, while Walcott is yet to hit peak form at 83.45m.
Indian Medal Contenders Across Events
India's medal hopes extend beyond Chopra. Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, silver medallist at the 2022 Birmingham Games, leads the Commonwealth season chart with 8.38m, ahead of Jamaica's Tajay Gayle (8.37m) in the absence of Wayne Pinnock. Compatriot Lokesh Sathyanathan (8.21m) is also in medal contention. High jumper Sarvesh Kushare, who set a national record of 2.31m recently, faces a tough field including Olympic champion Hamish Kerr (2.28m) and Jamaica's Romaine Beckford (2.30m). India's Aadarsh Ram (2.27m) and Tejaswin Shankar (2.26m) also compete in high jump.
In men's triple jump, national record holder Praveen Chitravel (17.08m) and Selva Prabhu (17.05m) are medal contenders, though Jordan Scott of Jamaica (17.69m) is the favourite. Tejaswin Shankar's primary medal hope lies in the decathlon, where he is second on the Commonwealth season list behind Canada's Olympic champion Damian Warner.
Other Medal Hopes for India
In track events, men's 100m hurdler Tejas Shirse, with a national record of 13.27 seconds, could reach the final and challenge for a medal. India also eyes podium finishes in men's 10,000m, decathlon, and women's 10,000m race walk. The women's 3000m steeplechase and men's 100m hurdles and shot put may add to the tally.
Indian team management hopes to surpass the eight medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze) won in Birmingham. However, the depth of the fields makes gold medals uncertain.
Opening Day Highlights
India's first athletics medal could come from Sarvesh Kushare in men's high jump on Monday. Tejas Shirse also begins his campaign. Long jumpers Murali Sreeshankar and Lokesh Sathyanathan have qualifying rounds, while national record holder Gurindervir Singh runs in the men's 100m round 1. The men's javelin qualifying round is scheduled for July 30, with the final on July 31.
