Outdoing the likes of Neeraj Chopra and Julian Weber in his debut World Championship is a great feeling, but India's new javelin throw heartthrob talent Sachin Yadav says it cannot be a consolation for the disappointment of letting a bronze medal go by after a strong start.
Yadav, who was participating in only his second international event, outplayed celebrated competitors like two-time Olympic medallist Chopra (84.03m), reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem (82.75m) and Diamond League trophy winner Julian Weber (86.11m) in Tokyo on Thursday in a surprisingly strong performance.
The Indian's first-round throw of 86.27m was a personal best, bettering his earlier mark of 85.16m recorded in his silver-winning performance in the Asian Championships in May, which was his first international event. Curtis Thompson of the USA had won the bronze with 86.67m, 40cm better than Yadav's effort.
"The opening throw went very well. Weather conditions were good, my body was in great shape and execution was near perfect. The moment I saw my javelin land, I thought I can win a medal. I was confident I would pull off at least one throw of 87m," Yadav said from Tokyo.
"I was competing against the world's best and naturally your performance gets better. But I could not improve my first throw in the next five attempts despite trying my best. So, I feel I let slip a World Championships medal," said the 25-year-old.
Also read: Back problem bogged Neeraj Chopra down
Yadav’s second throw was a foul and the remaining four measured 85.71m, 84.90m, 85.96m and 80.95m. Three of his legal throws were better than his previous personal best. Hailing from a farming family from Khekra village near Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav also felt sad for Chopra, who was eliminated after the fifth round in a below-par performance due to back pain.
" Neeraj bhai and I kept talking during the final. After my first throw, he told me we should get two medals. I knew he was dealing with a back problem, but he must be hoping that he would pull off a good throw somehow.
"I was trying to better my first-round throw, but at the same time I felt sad for Neeraj bhai. It was the first time he was not on podium since Tokyo Olympics in 2021. In any case, our country was to win a medal. That also did not happen, so I felt bad."
His humble village home grabs the spotlight
Yadav said his parents, who do not know much about athletics, were surprised to see photojournalists at their village home after his Tokyo performance.
"I have spoken to my mother. My parents are happy, but they don't think much about all this, World Championships and winning medals, etc. They just wanted me to get a government job. They have never even seen the media. They have not seen anything. So for the first time it happened that the media went to my home and took a photo. My mother told me that some people came to our house and took photographs," said Yadav, who had joined the UP Police in 2023 under the sports quota.
His father had to take loans for Yadav’s treatment after he suffered an elbow injury at the beginning of his career in 2021. "I am in TOPS (Target Olympic Podium Scheme) and I have OGQ as my sponsor. So, I am better off now as far as the financial situation is concerned," said Yadav.
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