From surgery to success: How Yash Vir made a double podium for India in javelin

In cold and windy conditions, Chopra produced his biggest throw of 85.83 metres in the second round, also his season’s best. Yash Vir left it for the last round.

Neeraj Chopra, right, and Yash Vir Singh after the men’s javelin throw final at the Commonwealth Games 2026. (PTI Photo)

After his five prior throws, his best of 81.33m had placed him sixth. Reigning World Champion Keshorn Walcott’s last attempt of 82.55m had pushed Yash Vir to seventh place before he came up with a personal best of 85.41 to clinch a bronze, his first major international medal.

While watching his son compete in Glasgow, Rai Singh said he didn’t feel any nerves, even when he was well outside the medal standings after round five.

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“There was wind but in javelin, a 2-3 metre improvement can happen suddenly because there are so many factors. He had thrown well in practice, it was just a question of getting that one good throw. I just told him to be confident because he has a big throw in him. Thankfully, he produced it at the right time,” Rai, who hails from the boxing hotbed of Bhiwani, said.

Yash Vir started training for javelin at the age of 13. His first coach was his father, who has won multiple national medals.

Though Rai’s parents live in Devsar in Bhiwani, a nursery of Olympian boxers, he wanted to keep his son away from the ring. Yash Vir grew up in Jaipur but would often visit his paternal grandparents.

“Even if you win, you get punched in boxing. I didn’t want him to get into boxing. If he was to take up sport, it had to be javelin. When there is a coach at home, why try any other sport? Today, he has achieved what I could not. In a way, I am living my dream through him,” Rai said on Saturday.

He was overjoyed as he watched his son clinch the CWG bronze. The shoulder surgery and the rehabilitation phase were tough for the father-son duo.

“Injuries do happen in javelin. That’s part and parcel of the sport. He was out of the sport for almost a year. If not for the shoulder injury, he could have progressed much faster. But there is a time for everything. You get what you deserve if you work hard. Yash Vir had the potential, he just needed the right moment,” the proud father added.

Rai’s also keen that Yash Vir avoids the mistakes he made when he was an active athlete.

“Our era was different. We were not aware of the latest training techniques or even diet. But now things have changed not only in sports science but also in Indian javelin. Youngsters these days have a lot of confidence and can win medals at big events. This medal will give Yash Vir the needed boost,” Rai added.