World Athletics Championships Day 6 Highlights: Neeraj disappoints, young Sachin Yadav finishes credible 4th

It was a bittersweet moment for Sachin Yadav. The 25-year-old from Khekra village in Baghpat district of western Uttar Pradesh could have scripted history.

But he misses the medal by 40 cm. USA's Curtis Thompson took bronze with 86.67m. Sachin finished with 86.27m.

Margins!

MORE ABOUT SACHIN

Sachin was a cricket enthusiast, bowling in tennis-ball games, as many in his village did.

His talents were spotted around 2019 by his neighbour, Sandeep Yadav, a former javelin athlete himself, who noticed Sachin’s strong shoulders and good arm action while he was bowling in informal cricket matches. Encouraged by Sandeep, Sachin shifted from cricket to javelin and began training in the discipline.

Sachin’s rise has been steady. He first crossed the 80-metre mark in competition in 2023. He joined the Uttar Pradesh Police force through the sports quota, which gave him institutional support.

in the Paris Olympics final, Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan threw 90-plus twice, including the Olympic record of 92.97m.

At the Budapest World Champions in 2023, Neeraj won gold with 88.77m.

Today, Keshorn Walcott threw 88.16m for gold.

Why weren't the throwers able to get a big one out?

Neeraj, who threw 90.23m earlier this year, managed a best of 84.03m.

Julian Weber, who has thrown over 91m twice this year, finishes with a best effort of 86.11m.

HERE'S JAKUB VADLEJCH TELLING SUNDEEP MISRA ABOUT THE TOUGH CONDITIONS YESTERDAY

More than the temperature affecting the javelin throwers, it’s the effect on aerodynamics that could decide the distances in the final. Air density decreases with increased humidity, and this less dense air reduces air resistance (drag) on a javelin, allowing it to travel further. Humid conditions, less ideal, for endurance events, can actually benefit javelin throwers. Czechia’s bronze medal winner at the 2023 World Championships, Jakub Vadlejch, however, believes that the final will see distances dropped. “I don’t see any of us hitting big distances,” he replied while answering a question on what is the distance that might be a winning one. “The conditions are not conducive to big throws.”

13 years after he won the Olympic gold in London, the 32-year-old from Trinidad takes the gold with a best effort of 88.16m. After the final throw, he stands in the middle of the runway and breaks down in tears. He then rushes to his coach, who appears to be Neeraj's former coach Klaus. He then takes the Trinidad and Tobago flag and begins the victory lap.

Anderson Peters of Grenada just missed Jan Zelezny's record of three world meet gold medals. He finishes with a silver after golds in 2019 in Doha and 2022 in Eugene.

USA's Curtis Thompson puts America back on the javelin map with a bronze.

How many of you predicted this top 3?

This is not what we expected. Neeraj was a firm favourite. Sachin Yadav was not in the mix.

But, who would have thought that Sachin would have carried India's hopes in the last two rounds.

Neeraj Chopra was miffed with himself. It was not the night he would have hoped for.

For the first time in 7 years, he failed to medal in an event.

A no-throw on his fifth attempt brought a premature end to his men's javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships 2025. The defending champion bowed out of the medal race, finishing eighth with the best effort of 84.03m. Not once did he breach the 85m mark on the night - a rare and unexpected outcome for Neeraj, marking his toughest outing in recent years after a run of consistent podium finishes. This is the first time since 2018 that Neeraj has failed to win a medal in a men's javelin event.

It did not go as much as he expected. The big man from India cuts the line deliberately to not record that throw. It would have been in the 75m range.

If Sachin manages to improve, then he can be in the mix for a medal.

He is still in the top 3.

Neeraj Chopra is not impressed with his effort. He turns back and speaks to himself after that second throw. It was an improvement at 84.03m, but he is not going to settle for this.

Keep in mind, the top 10 will qualify for the last three rounds.

Neeraj Chopra is currently at the 7th spot.

The rotational technique is back, where he twists his upper body at the block. He has fallen down with the momentum after two throws. It's a shift from what he has been doing this season.

We are minutes away from the highly anticipated men's javelin final, and the big 3 – Neeraj Chopra, Julian Weber and Arshad Nadeem can already be seen warming up with their special drills.

Neeraj using some ball reflexes drill, and also getting in some tips from coach Jan Zelensky.

Arshad Nadeem sticking to some routine stretching, and Weber practising his run-up ahead of the key event.

Chopra knows the drill by heart now—shoes switched, headband tied, a few familiar ticks. Two-three runs in the throwing zone, first without the javelin, then with it. To shake off nerves, he even strolls in the opposite direction for a moment.

Scheduled to throw first, he shares a quick word with Zelezny over the announcements, then strides in like clockwork. Smooth run, effortless release, 84.85m on the board. Automatic qualification?

“I am feeling good...Distance-wise it is not that good, but distance does not matter here. The best thing is that we crossed the automatic qualifying mark in the first throw. And this is also the first time that the final is the next day. I tried to do my best in the first throw itself. I wanted to reach the room early, recover, and give my best in the final.” he said after his heats.

Wednesday’s qualifiers were a perfect teaser for what’s to come. Neeraj, calm as ever under Tokyo’s humid sun, needed just one throw – a flawless 84.50m – to secure his spot in the final. One-and-done, bags packed, mission accomplished. He even asked an official how to sneak out without disturbing the other events. Talk about efficiency! Only two out of 37 competitors managed that kind of magic.

Arshad’s journey, meanwhile, was pure drama. His first two throws – 76.19m and 74.17m – had him teetering on the brink of elimination. But on the last attempt, he found his groove and launched 85.28m into the sky. Relief, joy, a quiet “thank you” to the heavens – you could feel every emotion.

The men’s javelin final in Tokyo promises fireworks. Yes, the subcontinent will be glued to the Neeraj vs Arshad storyline, but let’s not reduce it to just an Indo-Pak clash. There’s a whole field of talent ready to throw, quite literally, some surprises our way.

The javelin final is shaping up like a blockbuster. Germany’s Julian Weber, finally living up to his hype, has smashed past 90m twice this season — including a monster 91.51m in Zurich that left Neeraj trailing in second.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a former world champion with a 93.07m best, looks hungry again after firing 89.53m in qualifying. Kenya’s evergreen Julius Yego cleared 85.96m at the first try, while Keshorn Walcott is quietly clocking 80-plus throws all season.

Add in Tokyo silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, Poland’s surprise package David Wegner with a new 85.67m best, and Brazil’s Luis Maurcio de Silva — who’s already touched 91.00m this year — and you’ve got a field stacked with fireworks.

After securing qualification into the final of the javelin event, Neeraj Chopra has said that he is eager to put his best foot forward and his focus will be on execution. (READ)

“It’s the final competition of the season, and my focus is just on giving my maximum,” Neeraj said after his heat. “Definitely, many things are different, training methods, technique, everything. I did really well in Doha earlier this season, crossing 90m, but after that my consistency hasn’t been great. Position-wise I’ve been okay, but technically we’re still working. Tomorrow the focus is on execution, and the details can be worked on later,” said Neeraj.

The Olympic champion didn't have the best of times during the qualifying round. Nadeem was coming into the contest after recovering from surgery, which he took before Silecia Diamond League, and his first two throws were poor. Arshad’s first throw went just 76.99m - almost 10 meters short of the qualification mark and a shocking 16 meters behind his Olympic-winning throw from Paris 2024.

His second throw was even worse than the first - 74.17m. Just when we thought he may not see Neeraj vs Arshad, the Pakistan ace was able to produce a throw of 85.28m to make the cut.

One and done! That was how Neeraj made it to the final of the javelin event. The qualification mark for the event was set at 84.5 m and Neeraj breached it with his first and only throw. He recorded 84.85 m and settled down to watch the rest battle it out to make the cut into the final 12.

Sachin Yadav, considered as the next big thing in javelin, was made to work hard and in the end, keep his fingers crossed to make it. He was able to make it in the end with a throw of 83.67 m to join Neeraj in the event.

It's Day 6 of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and all eyes will be on India's javelin star Neeraj Chopra. Seen as the face of Indian athletics, Neeraj will be out to defend his crown as world champion against some formidable opponents. The Indian ace will have Sachin Yadav for company but the showdown everyone will be looking forward to will be Neeraj vs Arshad Nadeem.

The last time both men squared off was during the Paris Olympics when Arshad emerged on top and took the gold medal. Neeraj has since gone on a fine run this season. securing his first 90 m throw and constantly improving under the tutelage of Jan Zelezny and his aim will be to not only retain his crown, but secure a third consecutive medal at the tournament.

Apart from Neeraj and Sachin, Pooja Olla will be in action in the 800m heats as he aims to bounce back from the disappointment in the 1500 m round.

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