Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Neeraj Chopra walks into the Commonwealth Games 2026 as India’s biggest athletics hope, but this may be far from a routine title defence. The Olympic champion and former world champion is returning to the Games after an eight-year gap, and the men’s javelin field in Glasgow is significantly stronger than the one he conquered in Gold Coast in 2018.Back then, Neeraj won gold with an 86.47m throw and looked a class apart. This time, he enters Scotstoun Stadium with questions around form, fitness and the depth of the competition. He missed Birmingham 2022 due to injury, and his 2026 season only began recently after recovering from a back problem.His first outing of the year at the Doha Diamond League showed both promise and rust. Neeraj produced a best throw of 85.69m, briefly moved into medal contention, but eventually finished fourth after two foul throws. For an athlete whose standards are now measured in 88m-plus and 90m territory, Doha suggested he is not yet at his absolute peak.

Who are Neeraj Chopra’s biggest rivals?

The most obvious threat is Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. The rivalry between Neeraj and Arshad has become one of the defining stories in world athletics. Arshad owns a personal best of 92.97m, one of the greatest throws in history. His listed season best is only 78.47m, but that number is misleading because he has competed sparingly and has repeatedly shown he can produce huge throws in major championships.Grenada’s Anderson Peters is arguably the most dangerous athlete in the field on current form. The two-time world champion has a personal best of 93.07m and a season best of 86.38m, slightly better than Neeraj’s. Peters is known for his ability to throw consistently over 85m, which is often enough to stay in medal contention throughout a competition.

Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Then there is Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, the emerging force of the field. At just 23, he arrives with a personal and season best of 92.62m, making him statistically one of the biggest threats to gold. Unlike some rivals whose best marks came years ago, Rumesh has already crossed 92m this season.India also has Rohit Yadav, who has thrown 87.05m, while experienced names such as Keshorn Walcott (90.16m PB) and Julius Yego (92.72m PB) add further quality to the competition.

All the participants at Men’s Javelin Throw Qualification

Why this could be one of his toughest Commonwealth Games competitions

The biggest challenge for Neeraj is not just one rival; it is the number of athletes capable of throwing beyond 85m. In 2018, he was clearly ahead of the field. In Glasgow, at least five athletes have personal bests above 90m, and several have season marks within touching distance of his own.Another factor is timing. Neeraj is still building rhythm after a back injury, and javelin is an event where technical sharpness matters as much as physical strength. A small loss of timing at release can cost two or three metres, which could be the difference between gold and bronze in a field this deep.The format also adds pressure. Qualification is on Thursday, with the final in the early hours of August 1 (IST). Athletes must manage recovery, rhythm and conditions across two rounds, and one poor series can end a medal challenge quickly.Neeraj remains the favourite because of his championship temperament. He has repeatedly delivered under pressure at the Olympics, World Championships and Asian Games. But unlike Gold Coast 2018, this will not be a competition he can win by reputation alone.If he throws 88m or more, a second Commonwealth gold is very likely. If he stays around the 85-86m range seen in Doha, Glasgow could turn into one of the most competitive and unpredictable javelin finals of his career.