Doha, 20 June (H.S.):

Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra marked his return to competitive action after nearly eight months by finishing fourth at the Doha Diamond League 2026 on Friday night. Although he narrowly missed out on a podium finish, Chopra surpassed the qualification standard for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The 28-year-old had been sidelined for an extended period due to a back injury. His opening attempt of the competition was a foul, but he soon found his rhythm and moved into third place with a throw of 85.69 metres on his third attempt.

Chopra then recorded a throw of 83.45 metres in his fourth attempt. To secure a place in the final phase of the competition, he needed to surpass the 86-metre mark with his fifth throw. However, that attempt also resulted in a foul, causing him to slip to fourth place in the final standings.

Although Chopra was unable to cap his comeback with a medal, his best effort of 85.69 metres comfortably exceeded the Commonwealth Games 2026 qualifying standard of 82.61 metres, securing his place for the event.

Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage claimed the title with a winning throw of 88.68 metres. He entered the competition in impressive form after producing a remarkable throw of 92.62 metres at the recent Rome Diamond League.

Grenada's Anderson Peters finished second with a throw of 86.38 metres, while the United States' Curtis Thompson secured third place with an effort of 85.99 metres.

Chopra's return in Doha is being viewed as a positive sign for Indian athletics, with the Olympic champion now expected to shift his focus towards delivering stronger performances in the upcoming international competitions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar