Ex-AFI chief defends Neeraj Chopra, urges celebration of Commonwealth Games silver

Adille Sumariwalla defended Neeraj Chopra after Chopra won silver in the men's javelin at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on July 31, 2026. Chopra lost the gold to Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage and attracted criticism over the result.

Sumariwalla said scepticism had grown after Chopra suffered a back injury late last year that led to an eighth-place finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The two-time Olympic medallist took extended time off to recover, split with his former coach and began working with Jai Chaudhary. Chopra delayed the start of his 2026 season, returned at the Doha Diamond League where he finished fourth, and then produced a season-best to claim silver in Glasgow.

"After the injury, for him to come back to this stage and win a silver medal, it's simply fantastic for Indian athletics. We are confident that he will keep on improving in the coming days," Sumariwalla told PTI. Sumariwalla made the remarks in his role as AFI selection committee chairman.

Addressing expectations placed on top athletes, Sumariwalla warned against demanding gold at every outing and urged appreciation for other podium finishes. "It is not that he would win gold all the time, it doesn't happen like that. Silver medals also happen. He is also a human being, and we should leave it at that. We should celebrate his silver medals also," he said.

Sumariwalla listed Chopra's career honours while defending the javelin thrower and framed additional medals as a bonus. "Who has given you two Olympic medals, a gold and a silver? Who has given you world championships gold, junior world record and a gold medal? Who has given you Asian Games gold and Commonwealth Games gold and silver, and Asian Championships gold? Whatever medal he has won, we should take it as a bonus," Sumariwalla remarked. "So, when he wins a silver medal also, we must leave it at that. We must not write him off. Whatever he has to do, he will do it and he knows it. He is after all the greatest athlete India has produced," added the former sprinter who headed the federation during Chopra’s historic Tokyo Olympics victory.

A congratulatory message from Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on July 31, 2026 noted both Chopra and Yash Vir Singh reached the podium in the men's javelin, with Mandaviya tweeting: "A double podium finish to remember! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for winning Silver and Yash Vir Singh for securing Bronze in the Men's Javelin Throw at the Commonwealth Games.Two Indians finishing on the podium is a historic first for this event. This is a truly pic.twitter.com/QmqnW2VJT1— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 31, 2026"

With his Commonwealth Games campaign finished, Chopra will focus on fine-tuning his rhythm and physical condition under Jai Chaudhary's guidance as he prepares for the upcoming Asian Games.