Goa, Sept. 18 -- Neeraj Chopra had an underwhelming performance in the men's javelin throw final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth. The defending champion could not find his rhythm, with a best throw of 84.03m, falling short of the 85m mark and snapping a four-year streak of podium finishes. His fifth attempt was a foul, ending his medal hopes despite showing no physical issues.

In contrast, debutant Sachin Yadav delivered a stunning performance, finishing fourth with a personal best of 86.27m on his very first throw. The 23-year-old from Khekra Village, Uttar Pradesh, briefly held the silver medal position and recorded consistent throws of 85.71m, 84.90m, and 85.96m. Earlier this year, Yadav had set a perso...