NEW DELHI: Neeraj Chopra enters the 2026 Commonwealth Games as India’s biggest athletics hope, but this may be far from a routine title defence. The Olympic champion and former world champion returns to the Games after an eight-year gap, and the men’s javelin field in Glasgow is significantly stronger than the one that conquered the Gold Coast in 2018.By then, Neeraj won the gold with a throw of 86.47m and looked a class apart. This time, I walked into Scotstoun Stadium with questions about form, fitness and the depth of the competition. He missed Birmingham 2022 due to injury, and his 2026 season only started recently after recovering from a back problem.His first outing of the year in the Doha Diamond League showed promise and rust. Neeraj produced a best throw of 85.69m, briefly moved into medal contention, but ultimately finished fourth after two misfires. For an athlete whose standards are now measured in the territory of 88m-plus and 90m, Doha suggested that he is not yet at his absolute peak.
Who are Neeraj Chopra’s biggest rivals?
The most obvious threat is Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. The rivalry between Neeraj and Arshad has become one of the defining stories in world athletics. Arshad owns a personal best of 92.97m, one of the greatest throws in history. His listed season’s best is only 78.47m, but that number is misleading because he has competed sparingly and has shown repeatedly that he can produce huge throws in major championships.Grenada’s Anderson Peters is arguably the most dangerous athlete on the field on current form. The two-time world champion has a personal best of 93.07m and a season best of 86.38m, slightly better than Neeraj. Peters is known for his ability to consistently throw over 85m, which is often enough to stay in medal contention during a competition.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Then there is Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage of Sri Lanka, the emerging force of the field. At just 23, he reaches a personal and season best of 92.62m, making him statistically one of the biggest threats to gold. Unlike some rivals whose best marks came years ago, Rumesh has already crossed 92m this season.India also have Rohit Yadav, who threw 87.05m, while experienced names like Keshorn Walcott (90.16m PB) and Julius Yego (92.72m PB) add more quality to the competition.
All participants in Men’s Javelin throw qualification
Because this might be one of his hardest Commonwealth Games contests
The biggest challenge for Neeraj is not just a rival; is the number of athletes able to throw over 85m. In 2018, he was clearly ahead of the field. In Glasgow, at least five athletes have personal bests over 90m, and many have set season marks at a distance touching their own.Another factor is timing. Neeraj is still building pace after a back injury, and the javelin is an event where technical sharpness matters as much as physical strength. A small loss of timing on release can cost two or three meters, which could be the difference between gold and bronze in such a deep field.The format also adds pressure. Qualifying is on Thursday, with the final on August 1 (IST). Athletes must manage recovery, pace and conditions over two rounds, and a poor series can quickly end a medal challenge.Neeraj remains the favorite because of his championship temperament. He has repeatedly performed under pressure at the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games. But unlike Gold Coast 2018, this won’t be a competition he can win on reputation alone.If he throws 88m or more, a second Commonwealth gold is very likely. If he stays around the 85-86m range seen in Doha, Glasgow could turn in one of the most competitive and unpredictable javelin finals of his career.