Neeraj Chopra's World Athletics Championships Hopes Dashed; Frustration Boils Over After Early Exit

Neeraj Chopra failed to emulate his usual best self at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth in the men’s javelin throw final on Thursday. The former Olympic and world champion managed a best effort of 84.03m, well short of his usual standards, and was visibly frustrated as his campaign came to an end in the 5th round of the final. Chopra had begun the evening with an opening throw of 84.65m, followed by 83.03m. A foul on his third attempt and a modest 82.86m in his fourth left him under pressure, narrowly avoiding elimination in the round before he was eventually eliminated. Stabding last among the remaining competitors, he urged the crowd for support, roaring before what proved to be his final throw. But as soon as the javelin left his hand, Chopra’s dissatisfaction showed on his face. He grimaced and then crossed the line, making his last throw a invalid. In frustration, he took off his belt, screamed, and covered his face, highlighting his disappointment with the performance. It was the first time since the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 that the 27-year-old had finished outside the top two at a global event. The final saw Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott secure gold with a best throw of 88.16m. Grenada’s Anderson Peters took silver with 87.38m, while Curtis Thompson of the United States claimed bronze. India’s Sachin Yadav impressed with a personal best of 86.27m, narrowly missing the podium in fourth place. Pakistan’s reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem also fell short, bowing out after Round 4 and ending in 10th place overall. Chopra, who won the world title in 2023, will look to regroup after a rare setback on the global stage.