It’s not how I had hoped to end the season: Neeraj Chopra on eighth-place finish at Athletics Worlds
Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin superstar, opened up about his tough day at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 27-year-old finished eighth in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 84.03 meters—way below his usual standards. As the defending champion from Budapest in 2023, Neeraj had high hopes to end his 2025 season on a high note, but things didn’t go as planned.
“It’s not how I wanted to wrap up the season at the World Championships in Tokyo,” Neeraj shared in an emotional Instagram post. “I aimed to give my absolute best for India despite the challenges, but tonight wasn’t my night.” This marked the end of his impressive streak of 26 straight podium finishes. His last finish outside the top three came back in 2018 at the Continental Cup in Czechia, where he placed sixth.
Despite the disappointment, the event shone a bright light on India’s javelin future. Young gun Sachin Yadav, just 23, made everyone sit up and take notice in his debut World Championships appearance. He smashed a personal best of 86.27 meters in the first round to grab fourth place, missing the bronze by a heartbreaking 40 centimeters. Neeraj didn’t hold back on the praise: “Really happy for @sachin_javelin_, who threw a PB and almost snagged a medal.”
In the end, Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, the London Olympics gold medalist, took the top spot with a massive 88.16 meters. Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, grabbed silver at 87.38 meters, while USA’s Curtis Thompson earned bronze with 86.67 meters. Neeraj congratulated them all: “Congrats to @goldenwalcott, @anderson_peters1, and @curt_thompson on their well-deserved podium spots.”
This Tokyo final was Neeraj’s seventh competition of 2025, and he’s already racked up four wins this season, including triumphs at the Paris Diamond League and his own Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. The two-time Olympic medalist stayed positive, telling fans, “Grateful for all your support—this just fuels me to come back stronger.” Indian athletics fans are already buzzing about what’s next for Neeraj Chopra and the rising stars like Sachin Yadav.
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