Who is Sachin Yadav - the second go-to person after Neeraj Chopra in Indian javelin

Sachin Yadav - India’s next javelin star on the rise (AFI Photo)

India’s upcoming javelin star, Sachin Yadav became the fourth Indian to reach the 85-metre mark as he delivered his personal best throw of 85.16 metres to secure a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championship 2025 in Gumi, South Korea on Saturday, May 31. The other three throwers are Neeraj Chopra, Shivpal Singh and Kishore Jena.

Sachin was in an attempt to cross the Tokyo World Championship qualification mark, but fell short by just 0.34, the qualification mark being 85.50m. Olympic gold medallist, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem bagged the gold in Gumi with a throw of 86.40m, who was making a comeback after the Paris Games.

Who is Sachin Yadav?

Born in Uttar Pradesh, the 25-year-old, 6 feet 5 inches tall javelin thrower first made his mark at the 63rd National Open Athletics Championships in 2024, held in Bengaluru, where he first breached the 80m mark and bagged a gold medal, reaching 80.04m. According to pundits, his throwing style and tall stature resembles alike to Pakistan’s Nadeem.

However, perhaps like millions of other Indians, Sachin also wanted to be a cricketer, but a family member’s advice made him take up athletics. In an interview with The Hindu, Sachin described his love for cricket. Belonging from a farmer’s family, he said that he has grown up growing wheat and fodder in their farm and hardly knew any sportsperson in their vicinity. “I used to play cricket for fun, and used to be an all-rounder. I love Jasprit Bumrah now but back then MS Dhoni was my favourite,” said Sachin in the interview.

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Sachin started the 2025 season on a high. Earlier this year, at the 38th National Games held in Dehradun, Sachin topped the podium with his personal best then, 84.39m. Following this, he again won a gold medal at the 28th National Federation Senior Athletics Championships 2025, in Kochi, with a throw of 83.86m. Last year in June, he topped the Indian Grand Prix 3, held in Bengaluru with an 82.69m throw.

The Asian Athletics Championships was Sachin’s first international tournament and he was up against the Olympics Gold medallist, Nadeem. Speaking to PTI, Sachin said, “Feeling proud to be able to represent India. Yes this is my first international tournament but I don’t have an added pressure. My aim is to give my hundred per cent and qualify for the Tokyo World Championships.”

Though he missed the World Championship qualification berth by a whisker, he is certainly the upcoming star in Indian javelin behind Neeraj Chopra, who Sachin considers his idol.

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Next big thing after Neeraj Chopra?

Given the current Indian men’s javelin scenario, Sachin is the next big thing after Neeraj Chopra, while some other names in the circuit like DP Manu faced a 4-year ban by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) from June 2024 owing to a failed dope test. Another javelin thrower, Olympian Shivpal Singh, who was under a 4-year ban till October 2025, failed a dope test for the second time in his career. His ban was reduced by the Appeal Panel of NADA and was allowed to participate in the 2023 National Inter State Championship. He also won a gold medal in the 2023 National Games. However, according to reports if found guilty this time, the 29-year-old is likely to face a ban for eight years.

Hangzhou Asian Games silver medallist, Kishore Jena, who threw his personal best of 87.54m there, also lacks consistency. After that Hangzhou success, he hasn’t been able to breach that 85m mark and make a podium finish in the competitions he played, other than a bronze medal at the 2024 Indian Championships in Panchkula with an 80.84m attempt. At the Paris Olympics, Jena finished 9th with an 80.73m throw, far from his PB. In the Diamond Leagues too, Jena hasn’t been at his best.

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Judging by the current scenario in Indian men’s javelin, Sachin Yadav is the second go-to person behind the Olympics and World Champion, Neeraj Chopra. All eyes will be on Sachin, after his performance in Gumi, whether he breaches the World Championship qualification mark in the upcoming meets he participates in.