India’s star javelin thrower and Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra endured a rare setback at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, finishing a disappointing eighth place in the men’s javelin final. This marks the first time in nearly seven years that the 27-year-old has missed out on a podium finish at an international competition.
Chopra, who has been one of the most consistent athletes in world athletics, had maintained an extraordinary streak of top-two finishes in all major tournaments for the last four years. However, that remarkable run came to an end in Tokyo as he managed a best throw of 84.03m, well below his personal record of 90.23m.
The competition saw some outstanding performances from global rivals. Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago claimed gold with a season-best effort of 88.16m, while Anderson Peters secured silver with 87.38m. The bronze medal went to Curtis Thompson of the United States, who registered a throw of 86.67m.
While Chopra fell short, the spotlight shifted to India’s rising talent, Sachin Yadav. At just 25 years old, Yadav produced the best performance of his career, recording a personal best throw of 86.27m. His effort was enough to earn him a commendable fourth place, missing out on the bronze medal by a mere 40 centimeters. His performance has been widely praised as a sign of India’s growing depth in the javelin discipline.
For Chopra, the result may serve as a reminder of the fierce competition in world athletics and the importance of peaking at the right time. Despite the disappointment, his stature as one of India’s greatest athletes remains unquestioned. Meanwhile, Yadav’s near-podium finish signals a promising new chapter for Indian athletics, suggesting that the nation’s javelin future is in safe hands.
