Commonwealth Games 2026: Neeraj's qualification streak broken amid windy conditions

For the first time in eight years, India's Neeraj Chopra qualified for a men's javelin throw not by surpassing the automatic qualification standard but instead via the rankings after three attempts in the qualification round.

Competing under the extremely windy conditions at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Neeraj made it to the final via rankings with a best effort of 79.61m.

The effort made him placed fifth overall, his lowest in years in qualification rounds.

Neeraj started with a 76.28m throw, before improving it to 79.61. He then passed on his final attempt after he was assured of a spot in the final.

India's Rohit Yadav (78.37m) and Yashvir Singh (78.36m) also made it to the final, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.

However, for Neeraj this is the first time since the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that he had to take more than an attempt in the qualification round.

The last time he had to do so was way back in the 2017 World Athletics Championships, where he didn't qualify for the final.

Since then Neeraj has qualified for the finals of 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2020 Tokyo Olympics, 2022 Asian Games, 2022 World Athletics Championships, 2023 World Athletics Championships, 2024 Paris Olympics, and 2025 World Athletics Championships all with his first throw in the qualification round.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games qualification round saw none of the javelin throwers hit the automatic qualification mark of 84m.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, the world leader of the season, was the best thrower in the qualification round with an attempt of 82.84m.

Grenada's Anderson Peters (81.29m), South Africa's Douw Smith (80.64m), and England's Ben East (80.38m) all finished ahead of Neeraj.