Neeraj Chopra won the silver medal, while Yashvir Singh pulled off a surprise bronze with his final throw as India had two athletes on the podium in the men’s javelin throw at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday.Neeraj, the 28-year-old Tokyo Olympic champion, was not at his best in difficult weather but still managed a season-best throw of 85.83m in his second attempt to finish second. His previous best this season was 85.69m, which came when he finished fourth at the Doha Diamond League on June 19, his only other competition this year.Yashvir, 24, competing in his first Commonwealth Games, delivered the best throw of his career with 85.41m in his sixth and final attempt to claim the bronze medal. His previous personal best was 83.72m.Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage lived up to expectations by winning the gold medal with a best throw of 89.75m, achieved in his second attempt.His throw was close to the 90m mark despite the cold and windy conditions. He also remains the only javelin thrower this season to have crossed the 90m mark.The third Indian in the fray, Rohit Yadav finished seventh with a best throw of 81.56m.Interestingly, athletes from the Indian subcontinent swept all the men’s javelin throw medals in the Games.However, Pakistan’s defending champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist was eliminated after three rounds with a best distance of 77.41m.Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago finished sixth with 82.55m.Chopra had returned from a lower back injury that has troubled him since September last year. The injury delayed his return until the Diamond League in Doha. It was his second Commonwealth Games, having won a gold in the 2018 edition in Gold Coast.
