Without Neeraj Chopra, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav win javelin medals

When Neeraj Chopra stepped away from the Asian Games weeks in advance, concern arose over India's men's javelin prospects. In the 2023 edition, India had claimed top two spots. Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh filled the remaining spots in the squad, with Yashvir added at the eleventh hour. Rumesh Pathirage from Sri Lanka was the favored competitor.

On Sunday night at Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium in Nagoya, the stage proved challenging for Rohit and Yashvir despite their absence of Neeraj. Pathirage claimed the gold, with Yashvir taking silver and Rohit securing bronze. Despite slippery conditions and a personal best of 85.72m for Yashvir, he fell short of his Sri Lankan opponent's 88.55m effort.

Yashvir attributed his silver medal to overcoming a difficult physical and mental journey. He had struggled to surpass the 80m mark in recent years, even after breaking it in 2022. Shoulder surgery and mental hurdles slowed his progress, but consistent competition helped him regain confidence. Yashvir's medal also qualified him for the 2027 World Athletics Championships in Beijing.

Rohit's path was different; an injury sidelined him from competing in the 2023 Asian Games and World Championships. After a slow and steady return, he reached the Asian Games 2026 with two throws exceeding 87m. However, his bronze medal came short of his personal best, yet marked his first multi-sport Games medal.