Neeraj Chopra's podium streak ends, Sachin Yadav smashes personal best at World Athletics Championships 2025
(Courtesy : @SAI_Media/Twitter)
This was first time since 2018 that Neeraj Chopra finished outside the top three.
India’s hopes of ending the medal drought at the World Athletics Championships 2025 suffered a crushing blow as Neeraj Chopra failed to defend his men’s javelin throw title on Thursday.
Chopra, who was India’s biggest medal hope in Tokyo, finished a disappointing eighth in the men’s javelin throw final. For a man who has been India’s most consistent global performer, it was a heartbreak in every sense.
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While Neeraj’s struggles came as a shock, compatriots Sachin Yadav and Pooja Olla smashed personal bests in their respective events, although they finished outside medal places—the former ended fourth in the men’s javelin throw final.
Four years ago, on this very soil, Neeraj scripted history with Olympic gold in Tokyo. Since then, he had never returned from a major meet without standing on the podium. It was always first or second. But on the same land where his golden streak began, it ended.
Infact, since 2018, he had never finished outside the top three in any men’s javelin event he has participated in his career, until this night of heartbreak in Tokyo.
Chopra had qualified for the final showing his classic domination, producing an 84.85m throw with his very first attempt breaching the direct qualification mark of 84.5m.
Also Read: Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem head-to-head: Who holds the superior H2H in men’s javelin throw?
But on Thursday in the final, Chopra couldn’t summon that momentum. He opened with 83.65m, improved to 84.03m in his second.
However, the 27-year-old then faltered. A foul in the third was followed by 82.86m in the fourth, and another foul in the fifth. That was the end of a medal run he had protected since 2021. The disappointment was visible on Chopra’s face.
While Neeraj disappointed, Sachin Yadav breathed new life into India’s medal hopes with a career-best 86.27m throw in his very first attempt, even surpassing world No.1 Julian Weber to move to second place.
The battle was growing in the later rounds. Trinidad’s Keshorn Walcott secured a mammoth 88.16m in his fourth attempt taking the lead, Grenada’s Anderson Peters with 87.38m achieved in 2nd round stood second, and St. Vincent’s Curtis Thompson managed 86.67m, all surpassing Yadav’s mark.
Despite fighting hard, Yadav could not better his opening throw, following up with throws of 85.71m, 84.90m, 85.96m, and 80.95m.
In the end, he finished agonisingly close to the podium, at fourth place, just missing what could have been India’s first medal at the Championships.
The night also saw Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan falter with a modest series of 82.73m, foul, and 82.75m, finishing 10th overall. With this loss, his head-to-head record against Neeraj becomes 1-11.
Another shock was Julian Weber who finished a place behind Sachin at fifth with his opening throw as the best.
How did Neeraj Chopra perform in the final?
Neeraj Chopra finished 8th with a best throw of 84.03m, marking his first time without a medal in a major event since 2018.
How did Sachin Yadav perform in the final?
Sachin Yadav finished 4th in the event with a new personal-best throw of 86.27m.
Who won gold medal in men’s javelin throw final at World Athletics Championships 2025?
Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott clinched gold with a throw of 88.16m.
What was the podium in men’s javelin throw final at World Athletics Championships 2025?
The podium finish was:
Gold: Keshorn Walcott 88.16m
Silver: Anderson Peters 87.38m
Bronze: Curtis Thompson 86.67m
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For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.
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