Jaipur: With hard work and determination, even a final opportunity can make history. Yashveer Singh, a ticket clerk (TC) with Jaipur Railways, proved exactly this during the javelin throw event at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Yashveer, who was out of medal contention after his first five attempts, turned the entire competition around with a throw of 85.41 meters in his sixth and final attempt. With this throw, he won the bronze medal and surpassed his previous personal best of 83.72 meters. This achievement was particularly special as Yashveer secured a spot on the podium by outperforming stalwarts like former world champion Anderson Peters and reigning Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem. After winning the Commonwealth medal, Yashveer said, “I had complete faith in myself before the final throw. The initial five attempts didn’t go as expected, but I didn’t lose focus. It was the last chance, and I gave it my all. As soon as the javelin crossed the 85-meter mark, I knew something big had happened.”
Inspiration from Father; Journey Began at the Railway Ground
Yashveer Singh, originally from Bhiwani, Haryana, shared that his sporting journey began at the Jaipur Railway Colony. His father works for Indian Railways, and the family moved to Jaipur due to his posting there; his father serves as the ‘Complaint In-charge’ for Jaipur Railways. Yashveer mentioned that he drew inspiration for the javelin throw from his father. “My father was a good javelin thrower himself. I took up the sport after watching him. In the early days, he taught me the technique and the nuances of the game. My journey started while practicing with my father at the railway ground.” He added that for the past seven years, he had been working tirelessly with the goal of winning a medal for the country at the international level.
Comeback After Injury Made Him Stronger
Yashveer also faced a difficult phase in his career. Due to an injury sustained in an accident, he had to stay away from the sport for about six months. He said there was a lot of disappointment at the time, but he didn’t give up. He focused entirely on his recovery and promised himself he would make a strong comeback—and indeed, he staged a powerful return.
