Tokyo — India’s hopes of a medal in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships 2025 ended in disappointment on Thursday, as defending world champion Neeraj Chopra finished eighth and compatriot Sachin Yadav narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish.
Chopra, unable to cross the 85-metre mark, registered his best throw of 84.03 metres in his second attempt before fouling in the fifth round, which cut short his chances of advancing further. Meanwhile, Sachin Yadav impressed with a personal best of 86.27 metres, securing fourth place in his debut World Championships final.
The gold medal went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who produced a season-best throw of 88.16 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters clinched silver with 87.38 metres, while the USA’s Curtis Thompson claimed bronze at 86.67 metres. Germany’s Julian Weber, considered a title contender, finished fifth with 86.11 metres.
Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem also endured a disappointing outing, registering two fouls and a best of 82.75 metres to end in tenth place. The much-anticipated showdown between Chopra and Nadeem, intensified after recent political and sporting tensions, fizzled as both failed to reach the medal rounds.
The result left India with mixed emotions — Chopra, the defending champion, falling short, while Yadav announced himself as a rising star with his career-best throw.
