India’s Sachin Yadav outshines Neeraj Chopra, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem but disappointment for subcontinent. AS IT HAPPENED in Tokyo

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra crashed out of the World Championships' men's javelin throw final after the fifth round with a best effort of 84.03m that left him eighth overall in Tokyo on Thursday. Reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan also made an exit in the fourth round.

Meanwhile, Sachin Yadav finished fourth overall with a best of 86.27m. Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott (88.16m), Grenada's Anderson Peters (87.38m), and the USA's Curtis Thompson (86.67m) ran away with the medals to the disappointment of fans in the subcontinent.

Neeraj Chopra, who got back-to-back Olympic medals to his credit, was eighth after the fourth throw and fouled the fifth one to exit the competition. Only the top six athletes will compete in the sixth and final round.

On a day when no thrower managed to cross 90m, Chopra was ousted after the fifth and penultimate round with a best effort of 84.03m that left him eighth overall. The 27-year-old fouled the fifth attempt to exit the competition at the same venue where he won a history-making Olympic gold back in 2021.

Meanwhile, Sachin Yadav's best throw of 86.27m, which came in his very first attempt, was a personal best and he bested not just Chopra but also German star Julian Weber (86.11m), and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem (82.75m) among others.

What happened to Neeraj Chopra at Tokyo?

Neeraj Chopra began with 83.65m which put him in fifth place and improved upon it with 84.03m before fouling his third throw.

His fourth throw measured 82.86m, which meant that he had to better 85.54m, the mark of Kenya's Julius Yego, in his fifth throw to remain in competition. But Chopra fouled his fifth attempt to end the day in disappointment.

After releasing his spear, he fell down sideways and crossed the curved line to see the red flag from the official. He removed his waist belt and buried his face in it for a while before regaining composure.