# AFI chief defends Neeraj Chopra after silver at Commonwealth Games 2026-08-07T22:07:18+00:00 | Sports | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Athletics Federation of India selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla has dismissed concerns over Neeraj Chopra's form and fitness, saying the two-time Olympic medal-winning javelin thrower should not be criticised for an occasional silver. Chopra, 28, won silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last month with a season-best 86.48m despite a lower back injury that has troubled him for nearly a year. Sumariwalla told PTI that Chopra, who won gold at the 2018 CWG, remains India's greatest athlete. Separately, Ashish Yadav won silver in men's javelin at the World Athletics U20 Championships, becoming only the second Indian to medal there since Chopra's gold in 2016. The Indian track and field team returned from Glasgow with 10 medals, the best haul outside India. ## Coverage - thehindu.com - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: Adille Sumariwalla, athletics, Commonwealth Games, javelin, Neeraj Chopra Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/sumariwalla-backs-neeraj-chopra-after-commonwealth-games-silver/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/sumariwalla-backs-neeraj-chopra-after-commonwealth-games-silver/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.