Neeraj Chopra stumbles, Sachin Yadav rises in Tokyo javelin showdown
The Tokyo night had all the makings of a historic India vs Pakistan rivalry. Fans filled the Japan National Stadium with flags, chants, and phones ready to capture the defining throws of the season. But instead of fireworks from the seasoned stars, the spotlight shifted unexpectedly to a young Indian thrower—Sachin Yadav—who almost stole the show with the throw of his life.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra entered the javelin final as one of the favorites. His old rival, Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, was equally determined to script his own moment of glory. Yet, sport often defies the script, and that’s exactly what happened in Tokyo.
What went wrong for Neeraj and Nadeem?
Neeraj Chopra, known for his calm nerves and big-match temperament, looked slightly off balance from the start. His second attempt measured 84.03m, his best of the night, but it was not enough to break into medal contention. The rest of his attempts failed to show the spark fans have come to expect.
“I gave my best, but today wasn’t my day,” Neeraj admitted later. “Sometimes the body doesn’t respond the way you want it to.”
On the other side, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem also had a frustrating outing. His opening throw landed at 82.73m, followed by a close 82.75m. But three fouls in six attempts completely derailed his rhythm. The man who once challenged Chopra for supremacy in Asia finished 10th, a disappointing result for his camp.
For both champions, it was a reminder that world events don’t always run on reputation. Form, fitness, and focus on the day matter more than past achievements.
The rise of Sachin Yadav
If Chopra and Nadeem underperformed, Sachin Yadav more than made up for it. On his very first throw, he hurled the javelin to 86.27m—a personal best. The stadium gasped, and suddenly, all cameras turned towards the young Indian. For several rounds, he was in medal contention, only to slip to fourth place by the final round.
But finishing fourth in your first senior World Championship final, ahead of big names like Germany’s Julian Weber and Kenya’s Julius Yego, is no small feat. Yadav’s throw not only gave India hope beyond Chopra but also underlined the growing depth of Indian athletics.
“I was nervous at first, but once I felt the javelin fly, I knew something special had happened,” Sachin said with a smile. “This is just the beginning.”
he medal winners
While Asia’s giants struggled, the Caribbean and American throwers took charge.
- Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) clinched gold with an outstanding 88.16m throw.
- Anderson Peters (Grenada) took silver with 87.38m.
- Curtis Thompson (USA) bagged bronze, just edging past Yadav with 86.67m.
The winning margin was narrow, but decisive. Walcott, once an Olympic champion in 2012, proved that class never fades.
Why did Chopra fall short?
Several factors may have played a role in Neeraj’s underwhelming show:
- Pressure of expectations – Carrying the hopes of over a billion fans is never easy. A single foul or weak attempt can shake rhythm in such high-stakes finals.
- Technical glitches – Chopra’s run-up and release angle looked slightly inconsistent, reducing the whip effect that usually powers his javelin beyond 87–88m.
- Stronger competition – With Walcott, Peters, and Thompson in peak form, Chopra needed something near his personal best of 89.94m. Falling short by nearly six meters made the difference.
For Arshad Nadeem, the story was even tougher. Recent injuries and patchy form clearly hampered his performance. A fully fit Nadeem is capable of crossing 90m, but Tokyo was not his night.
The bigger picture for Indian athletics
While fans may feel disappointed with Chopra’s 8th-place finish, the emergence of Sachin Yadav is a silver lining. India now has more than one genuine contender on the global stage. If nurtured well, this depth can translate into multiple medals in the years ahead.
Chopra himself knows setbacks are part of sport. After all, he bounced back from an elbow surgery in 2019 to win Olympic gold in 2021. The next big target is Paris 2026 and the World Championships 2027. For Nadeem, the challenge is recovery—both physical and mental.
As for Sachin Yadav, the message is clear: he is no longer just a promising youngster. He has announced his arrival among the elites. With better exposure, coaching, and international experience, he could well be India’s next big star in javelin.
Final thoughts
The Tokyo final may not have given us the Neeraj vs Nadeem blockbuster many expected, but it gave us something else—hope. Hope in the form of Sachin Yadav, who reminded everyone that Indian athletics is not dependent on one superstar.
Sport has its ups and downs. Chopra and Nadeem have carried the weight of South Asian javelin for years. Now, a new name is stepping into the arena. For Indian fans, this bittersweet night could mark the start of a fresh chapter.