Neeraj Chopra’s remarkable run of podium finishes came to an end on Thursday as the Indian javelin thrower finished eighth in the men’s final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 27-year-old, who managed a best throw of 84.03m, was eliminated in the fifth round, bringing to a close a streak of 26 consecutive competitions where he had finished inside the top two. It was his first result outside the top two since a bronze medal at the Kourtane Games in Finland back in June 2021. A streak that began with his gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics also ended in Tokyo. Chopra, who had successfully defended titles and added the 2023 World Championship crown to his collection, could not find his rhythm this time. His efforts of 84.65m, 83.03m, a foul, and 82.86m before he bowed out in the fifth round.
Neeraj Chopra shouts in frustration during the men’s javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Needing a big effort to stay alive, he sought energy from the crowd, raising his arms and letting out a roar before his final attempt. But the disappointment was immediate. Chopra frowned as soon as the javelin left his hand. He then crossed the line, thereby nullifying the throw and proceeded to rip off his belt, screamed, and covered his face in frustration. The night belonged instead to Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who won gold with 88.16m. Anderson Peters of Grenada claimed silver with 87.38m, while Curtis Thompson of the United States secured bronze. India’s Sachin Yadav came close to a historic medal, finishing fourth with a personal best of 86.27m. Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem had an early exit, ending 10th overall.
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For Chopra, it was a rare stumble on the international stage. The consistency that defined his career since 2021 was broken, but only with hopes of better to come.
