Daijiworld Media Network - Tokyo
Tokyo, Sep 18: India’s Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and former World Champion, suffered a disappointing night at the World Athletics Championships, finishing a distant eighth in the javelin throw final. The 26-year-old struggled to find his rhythm at the Japan National Stadium and managed a best throw of only 84.03m—well below his personal best of 90.23m recorded earlier this year in Doha.
However, while Chopra's title defence ended on a sour note, the spotlight shifted to a rising star—23-year-old Sachin Yadav, who delivered a stunning performance in his World Championship debut. The young thrower from Uttar Pradesh came agonizingly close to a podium finish, landing in fourth place with a personal best of 86.27m, just 40 centimeters short of a bronze medal.
A Surprising Night of Upsets
The final, held under slight drizzle and swirling breeze, turned out to be one of the most unpredictable contests in recent javelin history. Big names like Chopra, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, and Germany’s season leader Julien Webber all fell short of expectations.
Chopra opened with 83.65m, improved marginally to 84.03m in his second attempt, but failed to register significant throws afterward—fouling his third and fifth attempts. His exit came after the fourth round, ending what had been a glittering championship streak, including gold at the 2023 Worlds and silver in 2022.
Nadeem, who recently returned from injury after his gold-medal-winning throw of 92.97m at the Paris Olympics, finished 10th with a best effort of 82.75m and was eliminated before the final three rounds. Webber, another medal hopeful, landed in sixth with 85.54m.
India’s Bright New Prospect
In contrast, Yadav grabbed attention from his very first attempt—an 86.27m throw that shot him into early medal contention. Although he fouled his second attempt and gradually slipped to fourth place, his consistency stood out. He followed up with solid throws of 84.90m and 85.96m, before closing with a modest 80.95m.
While Yadav missed a medal by a whisker, his performance—marked by composure and steady improvement—signaled the arrival of a new force in Indian athletics. With this being only his second international competition, Yadav’s rise offers immense hope for India’s javelin future.
Podium Finishers
Veteran Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, who won Olympic gold in 2012, returned to the global stage with a bang, clinching the World title with a season-best throw of 88.16m. He took the lead in the second round and sealed it in the fourth, marking a triumphant comeback.
Two-time World Champion Anderson Peters of Grenada secured silver with 87.38m, while Curtis Thompson of the USA claimed a surprise bronze with 86.67m—ending an 18-year medal drought for America in the javelin throw.
Kenya’s Julius Yego was in the mix early on but had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury, finishing sixth.
A Night of Mixed Emotions
As the final concluded, Chopra was seen exchanging a few quiet words with his coach, javelin legend Jan Železný, before applauding Yadav’s achievement. Despite Chopra’s underwhelming night, India still had a reason to celebrate, as Yadav’s gritty debut hinted at the beginning of a new chapter in Indian athletics.
While Tokyo didn’t bring a repeat of Chopra’s historic 2021 Olympic triumph, it did unveil a fresh talent ready to carry India’s javelin legacy forward.