Bengaluru: It was a dream debut for Sachin Yadav at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. He got to compete with the same legends he had taken inspiration from six years ago, when he first picked up a javelin and gave it flight in Khekada village near Delhi. Recalling his stunning show a few days back at the Japan National Stadium — which saw him enter the final without any real medal expectations and then stay in contention for a podium finish till the last throw — the UP police athlete gave credit to compatriot Neeraj Chopra for his superb fourth-place finish. It was the best performance by an Indian at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The new star said rain affected the final phase of the final. “The drizzle started during the fourth round. Soon it became difficult as the support from the runway became less. Plus, it was difficult to grip and the javelin was slipping out of the hand. But I won’t blame it on the rain for not getting the big throw in the last round. “I had the confidence that I would get it and Neeraj bhai was also supporting me all the time. He kept motivating me and said ‘Sachin tu karega’. But in the end I couldn’t live up to his and my country’s expectations. I was fully determined to get a medal for India but couldn’t,” Sachin told TOI from Tokyo, recalling his third international competition where he produced his personal best of 86.57 on Thursday.Neeraj, the motivator “Neeraj bhai was giving such big support. He was carrying an injury and playing with it. It was great to compete with him and get all the inspiration. I know that even if you have a small injury, it disturbs you a lot. He was talking to me before every throw and pepping me up. He was confident that I would do well. He also asked me not to take any pressure. “He said, ‘Keep your mind blank and go all out and I’m sure that you will return from here with a great show. Don’t bother about the measurements. Instead, focus and play your own game and play for the country’,” Sachin said. “We were not competing against each other. He is like my elder brother. It’s not that Neeraj bhai has not done well here and I did better than him. He has done so much for our country over the last four years that we can only be grateful. I’m sure that he will come back strongly,” Sachin said. Sachin, who overcame an ankle injury that hampered his training for one and a half months, said he was determined to do well and gave credit to his coach Naval Singh and team physio Vipin Kumar for getting him back to shape. “I am what I am because of my coach Naval sir. He is the one who takes all the tension and my job is only to compete. He talks you through the tough training sessions so that you won’t feel the load,” Sachin said.
