Tokyo, (UNI) India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had an unexpectedly disappointing outing at the World Athletics Championships 2025, finishing eighth in the men’s final here today. His compatriot Sachin Yadav came close to a historic podium finish, securing fourth place with a personal best.
Neeraj, who had entered the competition as the reigning world champion and two-time Olympic medallist, recorded his best throw of 84.03m on his second attempt. However, he could not maintain his momentum and failed to make it to the final round, finishing outside the top six in the crucial fifth round. This performance marked the first time since Tokyo 2020 that Neeraj did not finish among the top two in an international competition, ending a remarkable streak of podium finishes.
Sachin Yadav provided a bright spot for India with a stunning personal best throw of 86.27m in the opening round. Despite his impressive effort, he narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing just shy of the podium.
Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem also struggled in Tokyo, ending his campaign in 10th place with a best throw of 82.75m, failing to progress to the penultimate round.
The gold medal went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who threw 88.16m to claim the top spot. Grenada’s Anderson Peters secured silver with 87.38m, while the USA’s Curtis Thompson rounded out the podium with a throw of 86.67m.
The men’s javelin final in Tokyo thus showcased intense competition, with new champions emerging and India’s athletes narrowly missing out on medals.
Neeraj misses podium at Tokyo javelin final
