Tokyo: On a damp and gloomy night at the National Stadium here on Thursday, Neeraj Chopra slipped and stumbled to finish eighth in Men’s Javelin competition of the World Athletics Championships.
The former Olympic champion and reigning World Championship’s miserable outing ended with a no-throw on his fifth attempt, pushing him out of the competition with one round remaining.
Chopra’s best throw of the evening was a disappointing 84.03 metres, on his second effort. He started with 83.65 and his only other legal throw measured 82.86.
The fact that Chopra failed to hit the 85-metre mark even once told its own tale.
It was a rare off day for the Indian star, after a run of consistent podium finishes. This is, in fact, the first time that Neeraj has failed to win a medal in a Men’s Javelin event since 2018, and first time since the Kourtane Games in Finland in June 2021 that he was placed outside the top-2.
Neeraj Chopra finishes outside Top 2 for the 1st time since he was placed 3rd at the Kourtane Games in Finland in June 2021.
Chopra’s unheralded compatriot Sachin Yadav impressed with a string of consistent throws and finished fourth with a personal-best effort of 86.27 metres.
Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott won the gold medal with 88.16, Grenada’s Anderson Peters claimed silver with 87.38 and USA’s Curtis Thompson settled for bronze with 86.67.
