For the first time in seven years, Neeraj Chopra found himself off the podium at a major event. At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the Indian javelin thrower finished eighth with a best throw of 84.03m in defence of the title he had won in Budapest in 2023. Speaking to the media after the competition, Neeraj admitted that a persistent back injury, lack of training, and difficult weather conditions played a decisive role in his performance.
“It’s okay, it’s sports, it’s life,” Neeraj said, accepting the rare setback with calmness. “Normally, I handle these situations, but today was a different day. Before coming here, when we were training in the Czech Republic, our team knew that I had a problem. I informed the federation about my back issue. I hadn’t trained for two weeks. It was being rehabbed, and in the beginning, we weren’t sure if I would even be able to play.”
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Despite doubts, Neeraj decided to compete, testing himself with a light session and a few easy throws in the lead-up to the competition. But on the big night, he admitted that he did not feel fully ready. “I was away from training, so I didn’t feel healthy,” he said. “Whatever happened today, we will learn from it and accept it. In the next season, we will try to do better.”
The evening brought another challenge — heavy rain just before his fifth attempt. “In the fifth throw, it rained heavily, and I slipped,” recalled Neeraj. “It was a very bad throw. The grip was wet, the runway was slippery, and I couldn’t get the right timing. But it’s okay. The next season will start soon.”
Even in disappointment, Neeraj found joy in his compatriot’s performance. Sachin Yadav, who threw a personal best of 86.27m, narrowly missed out on a medal but impressed with his composure on such a big stage. “I am very happy for Sachin,” said Neeraj. “I was thinking he could take a medal for India today. It was good that he did such good throws on such a big platform. He will do very well in the future.”
Revealing more details about his injury, the 26-year-old said: “As soon as I tried a back throw in training with a shot put, I felt a shock on my left side. I couldn’t even walk properly.
“It was on the September 4 morning, and we got an MRI done in Prague — it showed a problem with the disc. I missed training, and my mindset changed. It had a big impact. Normally, when I am fit, I have the belief that I will throw well. Today I just wanted to be safe.”
Despite finishing outside the medals, Neeraj remained optimistic. “This time will make me stronger,” he promised. “Sport can be anything — injuries, weather, anything can happen. But I will come back fit. The next season will be different.”
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