Glasgow: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra spearheaded a three-strong Indian contingent into the men's javelin final at the Commonwealth Games on Thursday, securing a top-12 finish on a day when gusty, unpredictable headwinds prevented any competitor from achieving the automatic qualifying standard.

Chopra, the 2018 champion, placed fifth with a leading effort of 79.61 metres, whilst compatriots Rohit Yadav (78.37m) and Yashvir Singh (78.36m) finished ninth and tenth respectively to guarantee full representation in the medal showdown.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Malayali athlete Sreeshankar scripts history

The 28-year-old Chopra, who threw last in every rotation, opted to skip his third and final attempt after his previous mark safely assured his progression.

With temperatures lingering at 18°C alongside persistent headwinds, conditions proved testing throughout the session, leaving athletes unable to clear the 84-metre automatic qualifying mark and forcing qualification to be decided on overall standings.

"The conditions were not the best for javelin throwers. It was not only cold but also windy. And the wind was coming from all directions ... it was really hard to assess which side it will come from. And lots of throwers were struggling today, no automatic qualification," Chopra told reporters after the event.

"It was difficult to keep ourself warm also. We were trying to understand the conditions during the warm up throws, but nobody was able to decode. The athletes put in a lot of effort but the wind dictated terms. A lot of them will be unhappy today because I don't think anyone would be satisfied with their throw," Chopra added.

Only four throwers managed to surpass the 80-metre threshold.

In-form Sri Lankan Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who claimed Diamond League victories in Doha and Rome this season, led the qualification rankings courtesy of a first-round throw of 82.84 metres. Grenadian and 2022 silver medallist Anderson Peters followed in second with 81.29 metres.

"I am really happy that I qualified and I will try for gold tomorrow. This seems to be my luck year," Pathirage remarked.

ALSO READ: CWG 2026: Dilip Gavit wins men's 100m T47 gold

Paris Olympic champion and titleholder Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan (78.63m) and reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago (78.26m) also advanced in seventh and eleventh positions respectively.

Conversely, Kenyan veteran Julius Yego, who claimed gold in 2014 and bronze at Birmingham 2022, missed out after placing 13th with a 74.50-metre effort.

Wearing a beanie to combat the chilly Glasgow atmosphere, Chopra received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd at Scotstoun Stadium while employing a cautious strategy amid the adversity.

Having commenced with a modest 76.28-metre throw that left him sixth after the opening round, he improved to 79.61 metres on his second attempt to climb to fifth before passing on his final throw.

"I am happy that I qualified; it was really cold and windy. 79m throw was ok, the goal was to qualify for the final and do well there," Chopra noted.

Yashvir, holding a season and personal best of 83.72 metres, progressed steadily through the rounds. The 24-year-old opened with 73.89 metres, advanced to 74.45 metres, and secured his place with a 78.36-metre throw on his final attempt.

Yadav, who boasts a personal best of 87.05 metres, began with 77.04 metres before improving to 78.37 metres on his second turn, subsequently bypassing his final throw.

Chopra's appearance follows a recovery period from a lower-back issue that has persisted since September of last year, delaying his season debut until the Doha Diamond League in June, where he placed fourth with an 85.69-metre performance.

PTI