Rohit Yadav throws world’s second best javelin throw in 2026 to book place at Asian Games

Rohit Yadav produced the performance of his career with a sensational throw of 87.05m to win the men’s javelin title at the Interstate Athletics Championships 2026 in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, June 28.

The athlete from Uttar Pradesh broke the meet record, set a new personal best and secured qualification for the 2026 Asian Games. His effort is also the second best throw in the world this season, underscoring his emergence among the sport’s elite.

With the inter-state championship serving as a qualifying event for the Asian Games, Rohit’s feat took on even more significance.

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The throw of 87.05m also took him third on India’s all-time javelin list behind only Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena. More importantly, it marked a remarkable turnaround for an athlete whose career had been marred by injuries just a few years earlier.

FROM A CAREER-THREATENING INJURY TO A CAREER-DEFINING THROW

Rohit’s journey has been one of resilience. After winning gold at the 2023 Interstate Athletics Championships and qualifying for the World Championships, he suffered a torn ligament in his right elbow that required surgery, forcing him to miss both the World Championships and the Asian Games.

His comeback in 2024 was far from ideal as he failed to break the 80m mark during the season. Still, the 25-year-old never lost faith. The turnaround began in 2025 when he threw 80.47m at the National Games, ending an 18-month wait for an 80m-plus effort.

He followed that up with a throw of 80.35m at the World Athletics Bronze Tour in Bhubaneswar, before bettering his personal best to 83.65m at the Inter-State Championships to qualify for his second World Championships.

The momentum carried over into 2026. Rohit started the year with 82.17m at the Indian Athletics Series-3 in New Delhi, followed it up with 80.40m at the Federation Cup and then improved to 83.76m at the Indian Athletics Series-9 in Ludhiana.

But he found a different gear in Bhubaneswar. His performance of 87.05m was not only a new personal best and record, but also the second best throw in the world this season.

After years of battling injuries and inconsistency, Rohit Yadav has established himself as India’s latest world-class javelin thrower and a genuine medal contender heading into the Asian Games and World Cup.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

28 Jun 2026 21:14 IST