Ashish Yadav has earned a silver medal in the men’s javelin throw at the World Athletics U20 Championships, becoming the second Indian to achieve a medal in this event at the junior global competition. This achievement comes a decade after Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal triumph.
The 19-year-old Yadav initiated India’s medal count on the third day of the championships. His best throw measured 74.09m, which he achieved on his third attempt, securing the silver medal. This performance marks a significant milestone for Indian javelin at the junior level.
Javelin Success and Other Indian Performances
Neeraj Chopra is the only other Indian to have medalled in men’s javelin at the World U20 Championships. In 2016, Chopra, who would later become a two-time Olympic medallist, won gold with an 86.48m throw in Bydgoszcz, Poland, setting a world junior record that remains unbroken. Yadav’s silver medal performance follows in Chopra’s footsteps.
The gold medal in the event was secured by Jan-Hendrik Heymans of South Africa, who recorded a throw of 80.50m on his sixth and final attempt. This mark also became the season’s U20 world-leading effort. T Dharanidharan, another Indian finalist in the men’s javelin throw, finished sixth with a best throw of 72.35m. Dominica’s Addison James clinched the bronze medal with a throw of 73.89m.
Yadav’s throw of 74.09m was 40cm short of his personal best of 74.49m, which he had previously recorded during the Indian Open Throws Competition in Patiala in March.
National Records and Finalists
Beyond javelin, Mohommed Ashfaq delivered a notable performance by breaking the men’s U20 national record in the 400m. The 19-year-old clocked 45.81 seconds in his heat, finishing second and qualifying for the semifinals. Ashfaq improved upon his previous national record of 46.05 seconds, set in April of this year. In the 400m finals, Ashfaq finished eighth with a time of 46.20 seconds. American Jayden Deleon won gold with a championship record of 44.47 seconds, while compatriot Quincy Wilson took silver with 44.62 seconds, and South Africa’s Leendert Koekemoer secured bronze with 44.96 seconds.
In the women’s discus, 18-year-old Amanat Kamboj achieved a personal best of 53.24m, finishing sixth in the final. China’s Su Yixin won gold with 61.06m, while the USA’s Jaslene Massey and Cyprus’ Marina Hadjicosta claimed silver and bronze, respectively.
Pooja Singh, a national senior record holder, qualified for the women’s high jump final by clearing 1.79m. All 14 athletes who cleared this height across two qualification groups advanced to the final. The 19-year-old Pooja holds the national senior record of 1.93m.
In the men’s long jump, both Shahnavaz Khan and Jithin Arjuna advanced to the finals after the qualification round. Shahnavaz finished fourth in qualification Group A and fifth overall with a 7.73m jump on his third attempt. Jithin secured the last available spot, finishing 12th overall with a 7.57m jump on his third attempt. Italy’s Daniele Inzoli was the only athlete to breach the automatic qualification distance of 8m with an effort of 8.15m.
Basant also progressed to the men’s high jump final after clearing 2.14m. However, Poonam did not qualify for the women’s javelin final, finishing 13th overall with a best throw of 48.81m.
This silver medal for Yadav is particularly significant for India’s athletics programme, as javelin has emerged as a strong event, largely inspired by Chopra’s success. Yadav’s podium finish ensures India now has two medal-winning performances in the men’s javelin event at the World U20 Championships, with Chopra’s gold in 2016 being the benchmark.
The result contributes to a promising campaign for the Indian contingent, with several athletes making progress across various events. Piyush Raj did not advance in the 400m after finishing fifth in his heat and 35th overall with a time of 47.78 seconds.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
