The 24-year-old achieved a personal best throw of 85.41 metres on his last attempt during the men’s javelin final in Glasgow, earning the bronze medal.
Prior to the Games, Yashvir’s personal record was 82.57 meters, established the previous year. As he approached his final throw in the men’s javelin final, he was in seventh place with a top throw of 81.33 metres.
Just before his final attempt, Yashvir mentioned that Olympic champion and CWG silver medallist Neeraj Chopra offered him valuable advice, stating, “I had to navigate tough conditions. Neeraj inspired me before my last throw and cheered me on. He advised me to keep the javelin in one line, and it worked.”
Taking the advice to heart, Yashvir launched a throw of 85.41 metres on his final attempt, surpassing his previous personal best by nearly three metres and securing the bronze medal.
He expressed that his sole focus was to give his best and leave nothing behind.
“This was one of the most significant tournaments of my life, so my only goal was to put in my 100% and hold nothing back. I aimed to deliver my personal best there. I’m thrilled that I achieved a personal best of 85.41 metres and won the bronze medal with that performance,” he remarked.
Yashvir also indicated that he felt little pressure during the competition, as the spotlight was predominantly on Neeraj Chopra and other top competitors, including Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, and Grenada’s Anderson Peters.
“I kept reminding myself to reach my personal best. God was gracious, and it happened,” he said. Yashvir began training in javelin at the age of 13 under his father, Rai Singh, a multiple-time national medallist in the sport. Rai mentioned that he never lost hope while watching the event.
“There was wind, but in javelin, a throw can improve by two to three metres in a single attempt due to various factors. Yash had been performing well in training. He just needed one solid throw. I encouraged him to stay confident because I believed he had a big throw in him,” Rai Singh stated.
He also reflected on how challenging the past year had been following Yashvir’s shoulder surgery.
“Injuries are inherent in javelin. He was sidelined for nearly a year. Had it not been for the shoulder injury, he could have advanced much quicker. But hard work ultimately yields results. Yash had the talent; he just needed the right chance,” he concluded.
