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Tokyo: Defending champion Neeraj Chopra’s incredible run of top-two finishes came to an end at the World Athletics Championships 2025 on Thursday as he crashed out of the men’s javelin throw final, finishing eighth with a best throw of 84.03m.

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Chopra was in eighth place after his fourth attempt and fouled his fifth throw, leaving him out of contention for the final round, which features only the top six athletes. 

Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan also exited the competition in the fourth round. Another Indian, Sachin Yadav finished fourth with a best throw of 86.27m.

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Neeraj Chopra Fans React to Streak’s End

The 26-event streak of Chopra finishing in the top two, dating back to June 2021 at the Kourtane Games in Finland, finally came to an end.

“For 26 consecutive events, Neeraj Chopra finished in top 2. In a very technical sport, that is an insane achievement. That kind of astounding record had to come to an end somewhere. Unfortunately, today was the day. But you're the legend who has inspired many Indians to take up athletics. 19-20 Indian athletes have qualified for this World Championships!," said one user on X.

Another added, "Not the best day for Neeraj Chopra."

A third noted, "Tough day for Neeraj Chopra. You could feel the pain in his body from a thousand miles. You will come back stronger champ."

Despite Thursday’s heartbreak, Chopra remains a national hero and an inspiration for young Indian athletes.

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