Yashvir Singh, 25, had his name on the Asian Games javelin roster after a phone call from Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who was sidelined by an ankle injury.
The call came at 10 a.m. on a quiet Sunday in Jaipur, when Yashvir was resting after a grueling training session with his father. Chopra asked him to reach out to the federation and be ready to step in. Yashvir, stunned, agreed.
Yashvir’s inclusion follows his bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he threw a personal best of 85.41m. That performance put him among the top contenders.
“I was just on my bed, and Neeraj says, ‘Brother, I’m injured, swap me for you,’” Yashvir said. He added, “Chopra’s confidence in me gave me a surge of energy.” Chopra, in return, urged him to “give 100 percent at Aichi‑Nagoya” and “aim for a medal”.
With Rohit Yadav already in the squad, Yashvir joins a strong Indian contingent that has historically dominated the javelin event. He’ll face stiff competition from Asian powerhouses like China and Japan. A podium finish would boost India’s medal tally and cement his place among the country’s elite throwers.
The Asian Games will open on September 20 in Aichi‑Nagoya, with javelin finals scheduled for September 25. Yashvir is gearing up for the challenge, hoping to translate his Commonwealth success into gold.