Defending champion Neeraj Chopra had a disappointing outing in the men’s javelin final, finishing eighth with a best throw of 84.03m. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott stole the spotlight, winning gold with a season-best 88.16m.
Neeraj struggles to find rhythm
Chopra, who came into the event as a strong favourite, failed to cross the 85m mark in his five attempts. His final effort was a foul, ending his campaign earlier than expected. This marks the first time in seven years that the Indian star has finished outside the medals at a major championship.
Sachin Yadav delivers personal best
While Neeraj faltered, fellow Indian Sachin Yadav rose to the occasion with a career-best 86.27m throw. Competing in his maiden global final, Yadav narrowly missed the podium but showcased nerves of steel to finish fourth in a field packed with Olympic and world champions.
Walcott’s golden night
Keshorn Walcott, who won Olympic gold in London back in 2012, rolled back the years with an 88.16m throw to take the top prize. Overcome with emotion, the 32-year-old wept on the runway before draping himself in his national flag for the victory lap.
Peters and Thompson complete podium
Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, claimed silver with 87.38m. USA’s Curtis Thompson secured bronze with 86.67m, pushing Germany’s Julian Weber (86.11m) into fifth place.
Arshad Nadeem bows out early
Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem endured a tough evening, managing just 82.75m to finish 10th. His early exit came as a surprise, given his dominant form at the Paris Olympics where he set an Olympic record.
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