Former Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra made an encouraging return to international competition at the 2026 Doha Diamond League, finishing fourth in the men’s javelin throw at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium on Friday.
Competing for the first time since the injury-hit 2025 World Championships, the 28-year-old Indian star registered a season-best throw of 85.69 metres. Though he narrowly missed a podium finish, the performance marked a strong comeback and secured his place in India’s squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Neeraj entered the competition under scrutiny, as his Commonwealth Games selection depended on achieving the Athletics Federation of India’s qualification mark of 82.61 metres. He answered the challenge convincingly with a throw of 82.77m in his second attempt after opening with a foul.
The two-time Olympic medallist then produced his best effort of the evening, 85.69m, in the third round. He followed it with a throw of 84.45m before recording a foul in his fifth attempt. His final effort could not improve his position, leaving him just 30 centimetres short of the podium.
Despite finishing fourth, Neeraj became the first Indian athlete this season to cross the 85-metre mark and the second-best Asian javelin thrower of 2026. The performance also provided a solid foundation for the rest of his season, including his bid to defend the Asian Games title later this year in Japan.
Sri Lanka’s rising star Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his sensational form by winning the event with a throw of 88.62m. It was his second Diamond League title of the season after his record-breaking 92.62m effort in Rome earlier this month.
Ahead of the competition, Neeraj had praised the young Sri Lankan, saying, “He is amazing, he is a nice guy and a good friend of mine. I’m happy for him.”
Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with a best throw of 86.38m, while American Curtis Thompson claimed third place with 85.99m. Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago endured a disappointing outing, finishing seventh with 81.47m.
Although the podium eluded him, Neeraj’s successful return after a lengthy injury layoff and his qualification for the Commonwealth Games offered plenty of positives as he gears up for another busy international season.
