Sachin Yadav Reflects on Neeraj Chopra's Disappointment at World Championships

Sachin Yadav's Performance and Support for Neeraj Chopra

New Delhi, April 6: Emerging Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav expressed his disappointment for his idol, two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, after Neeraj failed to secure a podium finish at the 2025 World Athletics Championships held in Tokyo. Despite his own impressive fourth-place finish, Sachin felt a sense of sadness for Neeraj, who has been a source of inspiration and a consistent medallist since 2019.

Making his World Championships debut, Sachin Yadav showcased India's talent in men's javelin by finishing fourth with a throw of 86.27m in the opening round, narrowly missing the bronze medal by just 40 cm. In contrast, Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world champion at the time, placed eighth with a throw of 84.03m. On this occasion, Sachin outperformed both Neeraj and current Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem.

Reflecting on his performance against Neeraj, Sachin stated that comparisons are unjust, praising Neeraj as an exceptional athlete who might have fared better if not for his injury. He conveyed his disappointment regarding Neeraj's result, emphasizing that Neeraj has consistently been on the podium since 2019 and was a significant influence in his decision to pursue javelin.

“People keep asking about my victory over Neeraj Chopra, but it’s not that simple. He is an outstanding athlete. If he were healthy, he would have likely outperformed me. I genuinely felt for Neeraj bhai. I began this sport because of him, and it’s unfortunate that in our first competition together, he didn’t finish well,” Sachin shared.

Regarding his near miss for a medal, Sachin mentioned that he prefers not to dwell on the past. Although missing out by 40 cm is disappointing, he focuses on staying motivated and aims to seize future opportunities.

“I try not to look back too much. It’s disheartening to have missed by just 40 cm. Instead, I motivate myself to ensure I don’t let such chances slip away in upcoming competitions,” he concluded.