Neeraj Chopra finishes outside top 2 for the first time since June 2021

India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra finished outside the top two for the first time in more than four years, ending eighth in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships 2025 on Thursday, September 18. Chopra’s best throw was 84.03m as he struggled to keep pace with the competition at the National Stadium, the same venue where he had created history by winning Olympic gold.

Chopra had consistently finished in the top two at major events since he was placed third at the Kourtane Games in Finland in June 2021. This result ended his streak of finishing in the top 2 in 26 consecutive competitions. The defending champion looked frustrated as he failed to keep himself in the medal contention for five throws before being eliminated.

Keshorn Walcott takes top prize in Tokyo

Meanwhile, the gold medal went to Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott, who produced a season-best 88.16m. Grenada’s Anderson Peters took silver with 87.38m, while the USA’s Curtis Thompson claimed bronze at 86.67m. India’s Sachin Yadav impressed with a personal best of 86.27m to finish fourth, narrowly missing out on a podium finish.

Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who had snatched the gold from Chopra at the 2024 Paris Olympics, ended in tenth place with a throw of 82.75m. He was eliminated after four rounds, including two fouls. Germany’s Julian Weber finished fifth with an 86.11m throw. Kenya’s Julius Yego finished sixth as he pulled out after three throws due to an injury.

Men’s javelin final standings