Neeraj Chopra had an underwhelming performance in the men’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth. The defending champion could not find his rhythm, with a best throw of 84.03m, falling short of the 85m mark and snapping a four-year streak of podium finishes. His fifth attempt was a foul, ending his medal hopes despite showing no physical issues.
In contrast, debutant Sachin Yadav delivered a stunning performance, finishing fourth with a personal best of 86.27m on his very first throw. The 23-year-old from Khekra Village, Uttar Pradesh, briefly held the silver medal position and recorded consistent throws of 85.71m, 84.90m, and 85.96m. Earlier this year, Yadav had set a personal best of 85.16m to claim silver at the Asian Athletics Championships.
Sachin’s journey has been remarkable. A former cricket player, he switched to javelin at 19 after encouragement from his neighbor and athlete Sandeep Yadav. In 2024, he won gold at the All India Police Athletics Championships with a meet-record throw of 84.21m, followed by victories at the Indian Grand Prix 3 and the National Open Athletics Championships. This year, he also claimed gold at the 38th National Games with a personal best of 84.39m, narrowly missing Asian gold by 1.24m.
While Chopra’s medal streak ended in Tokyo, Sachin Yadav’s breakthrough performance signals the rise of India’s new javelin hope. The gold was won by Keshorn Walcott with a throw of 88.16m.