World Athletics C’ships: Sachin Yadav misses bronze by 40 cm; Neeraj finishes a poor eighth in javelin throw final
Neeraj Chopra’s Tough Day at World Athletics Championships Javelin Final
Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin throw superstar and two-time Olympic medallist, faced a heartbreaking setback in Tokyo. Defending his world title, the 26-year-old finished eighth in the men’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships. He managed a best throw of just 84.03m—far from his season’s best of 90.23m in Doha. The weather didn’t help either, with light drizzle and strong winds making things tricky for everyone.
But here’s the exciting part: Indian javelin throwing got a big boost from newcomer Sachin Yadav. The 23-year-old from Uttar Pradesh stunned the crowd by grabbing fourth place in his first-ever World Championship outing. Yadav’s top throw of 86.27m smashed his personal best and came just 40cm short of a bronze medal. Fans are already buzzing about his bright future in javelin throw events.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott stole the show, clinching the gold with an impressive 88.16m—his season’s best and a title win 13 years after his 2012 Olympic gold. Grenada’s two-time world champion Anderson Peters took silver at 87.38m, while USA’s Curtis Thompson snagged bronze with 86.67m. This marks America’s first World Championship javelin medal in 18 years—talk about a comeback!
Yadav shone bright throughout. He kicked off with that massive 86.27m throw, holding third place early on. Even after a foul in his second attempt, he bounced back with solid efforts of 84.90m and 85.96m. His final throw was 80.95m, but overall, he outdid Chopra’s best mark five times. Coming from a small town in India, Yadav’s performance has javelin fans hopeful for more medals ahead.
Chopra, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic gold winner and 2023 world champion, just couldn’t find his rhythm. He started with 83.65m, hit 84.03m in round two, and fouled twice before dropping out. It’s a tough return to the Tokyo stadium where he made history in 2021 (delayed by COVID-19). After his event, Chopra chatted with his coach, the legendary Jan Zelezny, and even congratulated Yadav on his strong showing.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the Paris Olympic champion fresh off surgery, finished 10th with 82.75m. Germany’s top thrower Julien Weber ended sixth at 85.54m. The competition flipped expectations right from the start—big names like Weber (91.51m season best), Chopra, and Nadeem (92.97m in Paris) all struggled in the windy conditions.
Kenya’s Julius Yego led medal hopes midway with 85.64m but pulled out due to a hamstring injury, dropping to sixth. As the night wrapped up at Japan National Stadium, Walcott’s steady throws sealed his second global title. For India, it’s a mixed bag: disappointment for Chopra, but real promise from Sachin Yadav in the world of javelin throw. Keep an eye on these athletes—they’re set to dominate future international competitions!
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