India’s javelin star Neeraj ChopraA long-awaited return to competition ended with a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Doha Diamond League on Friday, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage continued his incredible rise to victory on a high-quality field. Making his first ride in almost eight months after recovering from a back injury, Chopra showed flashes of his best form but fell short of the podium in the end. The 28-year-old achieved a season-opening best of 85.69m in his third attempt, which ultimately left him fourth in the final standings. The evening did not start smoothly for the former Olympic champion. Chopra opened the foul with a throw before gradually settling into a rhythm. After shaking off the rust, he gave it his all in the third round, with a throw of 85.69 meters that briefly lifted him into the top three. He followed up with an attempt of 83.45 meters in the fourth round and stayed firmly in contention until fifth. However, with the leading trio clearing the 85m mark, Chopra needed a throw of more than 86m to retain his place in the top three and advance to the final round. Instead, he recorded another foul throw, ending his challenge and falling to fourth place as only the top three competitors progressed to the decisive final attempts. Although the result did not meet his expectations, Chopra still achieved an important goal. His effort of 85.69m comfortably beat the Athletics Federation of India’s Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 82.61m, boosting his preparations for Glasgow 2026. The Indian star has already been named in the country’s 32-member squad for the Games, which are scheduled from July 23 to August 2. At the top of the order, Pathirage once again emphasized why he is the current world leader. Fresh from a stunning 92.62m at the Diamond League in Rome earlier this month, the Sri Lankan produced a winning effort of 88.68m to secure the title. Anderson Peters of Grenada finished second with a best throw of 86.38 meters, while American Curtis Thompson took third with 85.99 meters. For Chopra, the meeting in Doha was an encouraging first step after a long layoff due to injuries. Although a podium proved elusive, the Indian javelin ace showed enough promise to suggest he will be a major contender as the season progresses towards the Commonwealth Games and other major championships later this year.
