Neeraj Chopra Reflects on Loss, Praises Sachin Yadav’s Heroics

India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra faced disappointment at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth with a best throw of 84.03m. This marked his first finish outside the top two since 2021, ending a four-year, 26-competition streak of podium finishes. Posting on X, Neeraj admitted it wasn’t the season-ending performance he had hoped for, but he expressed gratitude to fans for their support and pledged to return stronger.

Importantly, Neeraj congratulated fellow Indian Sachin Yadav, who achieved a personal best of 86.27m, narrowly missing a medal and finishing fourth. Neeraj praised Sachin for his effort, calling his debut performance inspiring for Indian athletics. He also extended congratulations to medal winners—Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (gold, 88.16m), Grenada’s Anderson Peters (silver, 87.38m), and USA’s Curtis Thompson (bronze, 86.67m). For Neeraj, the night was a reminder of sport’s unpredictability, but for Sachin, it marked a breakthrough moment that showcased India’s growing depth in athletics.