CWG 2026: Chitravel, Thirumaran book men's triple jump final spots
Synopsis
Selva Thirumaran fouled his first two attempts and had one jump to save his Commonwealth Games — he landed 16.26m and booked his place in the final. Combined with Chitravel's assured 16.41m, India goes into Saturday's men's triple jump final with two genuine medal contenders, while Neeraj Chopra and two more javelin throwers are also through. Glasgow could be a landmark day for Indian athletics.
Key Takeaways
Praveen Chitravel qualified second overall with 16.41m in the men's triple jump at CWG 2026 in Glasgow .
Selva Thirumaran advanced third overall with 16.26m on his final attempt after fouling his first two jumps.
Jamaica's Jordan Scott topped qualification with 16.56m ; no athlete cleared the automatic standard of 16.60m .
The men's triple jump final is scheduled for Saturday, 1 August .
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra (79.61m), Rohit Yadav (78.37m), and Yash Vir Singh (78.36m) all qualified for the men's javelin final.
India has five athletes across two field event finals at Glasgow 2026 .
India's Praveen Chitravel and Selva Thirumaran both qualified for the men's triple jump final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Thursday, 30 July, advancing through a competitive qualification round that tested nerves and technique in equal measure. The result hands India two medal contenders in one of athletics' most demanding field events.
How They Qualified
Chitravel delivered the more assured performance of the two, registering a best effort of 16.41 metres to finish second in the qualification standings. His mark fell 19 centimetres short of the automatic qualification standard of 16.60m, but it was more than enough to progress as one of the 12 best performers in the field. Jamaica's Jordan Scott topped the round with 16.56m.
Thirumaran's path through was far more dramatic. The Tamil Nadu jumper fouled on each of his first two attempts, leaving his Commonwealth Games campaign on the edge. Under intense pressure, he produced a composed 16.26m effort on his third and final attempt to claim third place overall and secure his spot in the final.
India's Javelin Throwers Also Through
The triple jump duo were not the only Indian athletes to advance on Thursday. Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, along with Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh, all progressed from the men's javelin throw qualification round. Chopra finished fifth with a best throw of 79.61m, while Rohit recorded 78.37m for ninth place and Yash Vir followed in tenth with 78.36m. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage led the standings with 82.84m.
Notably, strong and swirling winds disrupted the javelin round, with only four athletes clearing the 80m mark and none reaching the direct qualification standard of 84m — conditions that level the field heading into the final.
What the Final Looks Like for India
With Chitravel's 16.41m placing him just 15 centimetres behind Scott, India enters the men's triple jump final — scheduled for Saturday, 1 August — with genuine podium ambitions. Thirumaran's composure in converting a must-jump third attempt also signals competitive resilience that could matter in a final.
In the javelin, Chopra arrives as the defending Olympic champion, though the windy conditions and Pathirage's commanding lead in qualification will keep the competition open. India's three-man javelin contingent gives the team multiple shots at a medal in that event as well.
India's Athletics Picture at CWG 2026
India's field events campaign at Glasgow 2026 is shaping up as one of the country's strongest at a Commonwealth Games. Across the triple jump and javelin, five Indian athletes have reached their respective finals, reflecting both depth and form. The athletics finals over the coming days will be crucial to India's overall medal tally at the Games.
Point of View
One shot, 16.26m — is the more instructive story here. It speaks to a maturing Indian athletics culture where athletes can execute under elimination pressure, not just in comfortable conditions. Chitravel's 16.41m is solid but not dominant; Scott's 16.56m shows the bar is high. India's real test will be whether either jumper can add 20-30 centimetres in the final, which is the gap between qualifying well and winning. On the javelin side, the wind-disrupted qualification masked true form — Chopra's 79.61m is well below his personal best, which means the final is genuinely open, and that cuts both ways.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Praveen Chitravel and Selva Thirumaran qualify for the CWG 2026 triple jump final?
Yes, both Indian athletes qualified for the men's triple jump final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Chitravel finished second overall with 16.41m and Thirumaran third with 16.26m, both progressing as part of the top 12 performers.
When is the men's triple jump final at CWG 2026?
The men's triple jump final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games is scheduled for Saturday, 1 August, in Glasgow.
How did Selva Thirumaran qualify despite two fouls?
Thirumaran fouled on his first two attempts, putting his campaign in jeopardy. He responded with a crucial 16.26m jump on his third and final attempt to finish third in the qualification standings and secure one of the 12 places in the final.
Is Neeraj Chopra competing at CWG 2026?
Yes, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra qualified for the men's javelin throw final at CWG 2026, finishing fifth in qualification with a best throw of 79.61m. Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh also advanced, giving India three javelin finalists.
Who topped the triple jump qualification at CWG 2026?
Jamaica's Jordan Scott led the qualification round with a best jump of 16.56m, finishing ahead of India's Chitravel (16.41m) and Thirumaran (16.26m). No athlete cleared the automatic qualification standard of 16.60m.
