Defending champion Neeraj Chopra endured a shocking night at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth in the men’s javelin throw final. Despite being one of the top favorites, Chopra struggled to cross the 85m mark in five attempts, recording his best at 84.03m before fouling his fifth and final effort. Known for his consistency and having breached the 90m mark earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League, Chopra’s dip in form surprised many.
The 27-year-old, who won Olympic gold at the same venue in 2021, opened with 83.65m, improved slightly to 84.03m, and then fouled his third and fifth throws. His fourth attempt measured 82.86m, which was not enough to keep him in the top six. Chopra’s inability to make the last round marked one of his most disappointing outings in recent years.
While Chopra faltered, debutant Sachin Yadav became India’s biggest positive story. The youngster threw a personal best of 86.27m on his very first attempt, securing a remarkable fourth-place finish. His performance not only surpassed Chopra’s but also edged past Germany’s Julian Weber and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, who managed only 82.75m to finish 10th.
The medals went to Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, who took gold with 88.16m, followed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters with 87.38m and USA’s Curtis Thompson with 86.67m. The competition, though lacking a 90m throw, remained intense and highlighted the emergence of new talents. For Pakistan, Nadeem’s campaign ended early in the fourth round, marking a disappointing result after his silver medal in the previous edition. His struggles, coupled with Chopra’s unexpected exit, shifted the spotlight onto Yadav as India’s rising hope in the event.
