The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan showdown in the men&rsquo;s javelin event at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo ended in disappointment as both Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem crashed out of medal contention.
Defending champion Neeraj Chopra managed a best throw of 84.03m, finishing eighth, while Pakistan&rsquo;s Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem ended 10th with 82.75m. 
Arshad opened with 82.73m, fouled on his second attempt, and only marginally improved on his third, failing to advance further.
Both athletes later cited injury concerns for their below-par performances, unable to reproduce the form that once crowned them Olympic and World champions.
India, however, discovered a new bright spot in Sachin Yadav. The youngster threw a personal best of 86.27m to secure fourth place &mdash; just shy of a medal &mdash; but firmly established himself as a rising contender on the global stage.
The gold medal went to Trinidad and Tobago&rsquo;s Keshorn Walcott with a season-best 88.16m. 
Grenada&rsquo;s Anderson Peters claimed silver with 87.38m, while the USA&rsquo;s Curtis Thompson earned bronze with 86.67m.
Though the early exits of Neeraj and Arshad dashed hopes of another chapter in their famed rivalry, Sachin Yadav&rsquo;s breakthrough performance gave Indian athletics a fresh reason for optimism.

Athletes competing fiercely in Tokyo javelin finals

Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem falter in Tokyo as Sachin Yadav’s 86.27m throw sparks hope

Neeraj, Arshad Exit; Sachin Yadav Shines

Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem falter in Tokyo as Sachin Yadav’s 86.27m throw sparks hope

September 19, 2025 | 17:09 IST