Asian Games: Yashvir Singh wins silver, Rohit Yadav bronze as Rumesh Pathirage wins javelin gold in Neeraj Chopra’s absence

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, centre, India’s Yashvir Singh, left, and Rohit Yadav pose after the javelin final. (AP photo) NEW DELHI: India’s Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav stepped up in the absence of defending champion Neeraj Chopra to win silver and bronze in men’s javelin at the 2026 Asian Games on Monday.Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, the world’s leading thrower this season, lived up to his billing by winning gold with a best performance of 88.55m. Yashvir produced a personal best of 85.72m to finish second while Rohit secured bronze with 84.35m.Chopra was ruled out of the Asian Games before leaving for Japan due to injury, leaving India without the two-time defending champion and the man to win gold in Hangzhou in 2022. Pakistan’s Paris Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem was also in the field, making the men’s javelin event one of the most watched athletics events.Asian Games full coverage | Medal Tally | Schedule

Yashvir, Rohit keep India in medal chase

Yashvir made an immediate impact, opening with a throw of 83.56 and taking the lead after the first attempt. Rohit moved into first place with his third throw of 84.35m, putting both Indians in the top two positions halfway through the first three rounds.But Pathirage changed the face of the contest in his fourth attempt with a performance of 88.33m to take the lead and push both Indians to second and third.Yashvir then responded with a big throw of 85.15m in his fifth attempt to return to the silver medal.The Sri Lankan then sealed the gold in his last attempt with an even better throw of 88.55m.Yashvir had one more answer. The Indian produced his best effort of the competition, throwing 85.72m, his last attempt to better his personal best and secure the silver medal.Rohit, who briefly led the competition, eventually had to settle for bronze with a performance of 84.35 m.

India are in contention for a medal in Hangzhou

The javelin podium represented another strong showing for India despite Chopra’s absence. At the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Chopra won gold with a throw of 88.88m, while Kishore Jena won silver with 87.54m.This time too, India had two athletes on the podium, with Yashvir and Rohit ensuring that the country continued its medal run.Nadeem, one of the biggest names in the field after his Olympic triumph in Paris, finished fourth with a season’s best throw of 80.29m.