Neeraj crashes, debutant Yadav steals show

In a stunning twist at the World Athletics Championships, India’s golden boy Neeraj Chopra faltered badly to finish eighth in the men’s javelin throw, while debutant Sachin Yadav stole the spotlight with a fearless personal-best effort for a fourth-place finish on Thursday.

Chopra, who had once scripted Olympic history at the very same Tokyo venue in 2021, endured one of his worst outings on the global stage. His best throw measured just 84.03m, not enough to keep him in contention for the final round. A foul on his fifth attempt sealed his fate, ending what turned out to be a frustrating campaign.

The 27-year-old, celebrated for his remarkable consistency, had opened with 83.65m and briefly stood fifth. He improved slightly with 84.03m but faltered thereafter, slipping to eighth by the halfway stage. His fourth effort of 82.86m left him needing 85.54m to advance, but a foul on the penultimate throw ensured his exit. Visibly distressed, Chopra buried his face in his waist belt before gathering himself.

In contrast, 23-year-old Sachin Yadav announced his arrival on the world stage in style. On his very first attempt, he produced a career-best 86.27m, finishing fourth and beating big names such as Germany’s Julian Weber (86.11m) and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem (82.75m).

The gold went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott with 88.16m, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters (87.38m) and American Curtis Thompson (86.67m) claimed silver and bronze respectively. Yadav’s effort, though just outside the podium, ensured India still had reason to celebrate on a night when its most decorated thrower struggled.

For Chopra, who had crossed the 90m mark earlier this year in Doha, the eighth-place finish was a sobering reminder of the sport's unpredictability. For Yadav, it was the start of something promising.