India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra expressed satisfaction after making a successful return to international competition at the Doha Diamond League 2026, where he secured qualification for the upcoming Commonwealth Games with a best throw of 85.69 metres.
Competing for the first time in eight months after recovering from a back injury, the Olympic champion described the performance as a positive start to his season.
Sharing a video of his throw on social media platform X, Neeraj Chopra wrote, “Happy to be back on the field. 85.69m felt good, and ready for the season ahead!” The 28-year-old’s return marked his first appearance since the end of the 2025 season, when a back injury forced him to stay away from competition for several months.
Neeraj Chopra opened the event with a foul before gradually finding his rhythm. His third attempt of 85.69 metres lifted him into third place after three rounds and comfortably surpassed the qualification standard for the Commonwealth Games. He followed it with a throw of 83.45 metres in the fourth round but could not improve further.
The Indian athlete registered another foul on his fifth attempt and eventually slipped to fourth place, narrowly missing a podium finish and a place in the final three-athlete shootout. Despite the result, his performance offered encouraging signs as he returned to top-level competition following an extended injury layoff.
Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage claimed victory with a throw of 88.68 metres, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished second with 86.38 metres. American Curtis Thompson secured third place with an effort of 85.99 metres, edging Neeraj Chopra by just 30 centimetres in a closely contested field.
The Doha venue holds special significance for Neeraj Chopra, who crossed the coveted 90-metre mark for the first time in his career at the same competition last year. Although he finished fourth this time, his successful comeback and Commonwealth Games qualification provide a strong foundation as he prepares for the remainder of the 2026 athletics season.