Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra finished fourth in his much-anticipated return to competition at the Diamond League in Doha, falling short of his expectations. Competing for the first time since the 2025 Tokyo World Championships due to a back injury, Chopra began with a foul attempt on Friday. He then registered 82.77 metres in his second throw, placing him fourth in the nine-man field. His third attempt improved to 85.69m, moving him up to third place.
Pathirage Leads the Field
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, the world leader this year with a massive throw of 92.62m in Rome, recorded his best effort of the night at 88.68m to take the lead. This throw was sufficient for him to finish first, ahead of two-time world champion Anderson Peters and USA's Curtis Thompson on the podium.
Chopra's Final Attempts
Chopra's fifth and final attempt was a foul, leaving him in fourth place. He did not receive a sixth attempt, as per rules that only the top three in the standings get the final throw. Despite the result, Chopra achieved the qualifying mark of 83.61m set by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Commonwealth Games Qualification
The AFI has already included Chopra in the 32-member team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next month, with a condition. According to AFI selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla, Chopra was given permission to prove his fitness in at least two competitions.
