In a much-hyped India vs. Pakistan showdown on the runway, Chopra’s eighth-place effort of 84.03 metres and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem’s 82.73m left fans stunned as neither athlete reached the podium for the first time in Chopra’s remarkable 27-event streak.
The final saw a personal high for Sachin Yadav, who delivered a best throw of 86.27m, breaking through his own barrier to finish fourth just 40 centimetres shy of bronze. Despite consistent performances around the 85m mark, Yadav missed out on a historic first World Championship medal for India in javelin.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott soared to gold with an 88.16m throw, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed silver at 87.38m. USA’s Curtis Thompson secured bronze with 86.67m. The podium underscored the fiercely competitive nature of this year’s championship.
Post-competition, Chopra revealed he had managed lingering back issues in the build-up. “I had some problems before coming to Tokyo. Two weeks ago I had some back issues but I didn’t want to tell anyone,” he admitted. “Javelin is really tough if you are not in good shape, you’re out. It’s OK. I will learn from today. Maybe I need more training or to improve my technique.”
Neeraj Chopra’s unexpected performance dip marks a rare off day but offers valuable lessons ahead of next year’s Paris Olympics and future World Championships. Sachin Yadav’s personal best signals India’s growing depth in javelin, while Chopra’s candid reflections highlight the physical and technical demands at the sport’s highest level.
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