As the news trickled in from Tokyo, the stage of the World Athletics Championship, a feeling of utter surprise and disappointment engulfed me. Neeraj Chopra, India’s finest athlete, had missed the podium in the Javelin throw competition.
It is not Neeraj’s fault for putting me through the uneasy emotions. It is just that the brilliant Neeraj has not been without a podium finish in any Javelin Competition since 2021. We have been so used to his performances that a bad day for him has come as a big surprise, with a jolt too. The law of averages eventually caught up with the Champion as he missed his mark time and time again, last night, eventually finishing 8th. However, all was not lost for India, as Sachin Yadav rose to the occasion.
The 6’5″ burlesque Sachin Yadav, hailing from a village in Uttar Pradesh, hurled a personal best throw of 86.27 m to stand 4th, just narrowly missing the bronze medal. USA’s Curtis Thompson secured the 3rd position with a throw of 86.67 m. So close was Sachin, and though he missed narrowly, India has unearthed a real medal-garnering talent in Javelin.
Reigning Olympic Champion and Neeraj Chopra’s arch-rival, Arshad Nadeem, had a torrid time, falling to 10th position in a dismal performance.
Keshom Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago bagged the gold with a mighty throw of 88.16m, while Anderson Peters of Grenada took the silver with an 87.38m effort.
The Javelin missed the mark for India this time. But there is a new hope arising.
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