CWG star Yashvir Singh replaces Neeraj Chopra in the Asian Games athletics squad

India will have a new look in the men’s javelin at the Asian Games, with 24-year-old Yashvir Singh replacing Neeraj Chopra in the athletics squad for the upcoming Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The Athletics Federation of India confirmed the change on Thursday, with Yashvir joining Rohit Yadav in the two-member men’s javelin team. Neeraj Chopra Download After An a torn ankle ligament ended his 2026 season abruptlyleft a significant void in the Indian squad. However, Yashvir gives India a real medal chance after an encouraging run this year.

Yashvir arrives in Japan as a Commonwealth Games medallist. He won bronze in Glasgow in July, setting a personal best of 85.41m. The throw capped a rapid rise for the Rajasthan athlete, who had previously consistently broken 80m and finished second to Rohit at the Indian Athletics Series event in Ludhiana with 82.93m.

HIGH HOPE ROHIT YADAV

Rohit Yadav threw 87.05m at the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. Courtesy: Rohit Yadav Instagram

Rohit, meanwhile, does he has probably been India’s most consistent spearhead this season apart from Chopra. The 25-year-old produced the biggest throw of his career in June when he threw the javelin 87.05m at the National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar. The effort was a personal best, a meet record and the second best mark in the world at the time in 2026.

Rohit showed his consistency earlier in the season when he won the Ludhiana event with 83.76m, ahead of Yashvir’s 82.93m. Both athletes comfortably cleared the Asian Games qualifying mark of 77.87m.

The couple is therefore heading to Japan with real podium ambitions. While neither carries the weight of expectation that has dogged Chopra for years, both have shown they can produce throws of over 80 metres, with Rohit having already cleared 87 meters in the competition.

Chopra’s absence will still be felt. The two-time Olympic medalist only returned to competition in June after a nine-month injury layoff and appeared to be finding his rhythm when he finished second in Lausanne with 88.05m shortly before suffering an ankle injury in training. He subsequently announced that he would sit out the rest of the season.

Now the focus shifts to Yashvir and Rohit. India may not have its biggest athletic star in the javelin ring, but it will still have two throwers capable of keeping the country’s podium hopes alive.

The men’s javelin will be a competitive affair at the Asian Games. World leader and Commonwealth Games gold medalist Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who has two throws of over 92m this year, will be the favorite for the gold medal. Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who failed to even make the men’s javelin final at the CWG in Glasgow, will be eyeing redemption in Japan later this month.

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Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

03 Sep 2026 17:26 IST