Neeraj Chopra praises Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav after India’s double javelin podium in Nagoya
Neeraj Chopra said he was "very happy" after Yash Vir Singh and Rohit Yadav secured silver and bronze in the men's javelin throw at the Asian Games 2026 at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya on September 29, 2026. Chopra, who posted his reaction on social media, had been forced to withdraw from the Aichi-Nagoya Games weeks before the event after suffering a serious ankle ligament tear.
Chopra is a two-time Asian Games javelin champion, having won the title in 2018 and 2022, and his absence was considered a blow to India's athletics contingent. Yash Vir Singh, a Commonwealth Games medallist, was added to the squad as Chopra's replacement shortly before the competition. Despite Chopra not competing, India produced a double podium in the men's javelin at the Asian Games 2026.
Yash Vir produced a personal-best throw of 85.72m to claim the silver medal, moving into the medals positions with his sixth and final attempt. He had opened the final with an 83.56m effort that briefly put him in front before others improved. The 85.72m mark was recorded at the Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya during the event's concluding rounds.
Rohit Yadav secured the bronze with a throw of 84.35m, registered on his third attempt, and was unable to better that distance with his remaining three throws. His 84.35m finish placed him ahead of the reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem. The medal represented Rohit's first-ever podium at a multi-sport tournament.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage won the gold with a throw of 88.55m. After the contest Pathirage said he missed Neeraj during the final and described Chopra's injury as "bad luck."
This outcome continued a recent pattern for India in Asian Games javelin: it was the second successive edition in which the country took two medals in the men's event, following the Hangzhou 2022 result when Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Kumar Jena won gold and silver. Despite being added to the Indian athletics contingent just weeks before the start of the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Yash Vir was in fine form throughout the final.
“I have always wanted more Indian throwers to compete at the highest level, and seeing Rohit and Yashvir win medals at the Asian Games is something I am very happy about,” Neeraj wrote on X. “Congratulations to both of them, and to Indian athletics!”
The podium places were Rumesh Pathirage (gold, 88.55m), Yash Vir Singh (silver, personal best 85.72m) and Rohit Yadav (bronze, 84.35m), completing India’s double-medal performance in the men's javelin at the Asian Games 2026.