India continues to script history at the U20 Athletics Championship as Ashish Yadav became the first Indian since Neeraj Chopra to win a medal in men’s javelin at the World U-20 Athletics Championship.
Yadav delivered a strong show, throwing 74.09m to win a silver medal for the country. The U20 World Athletics Championship has given India many stars in the past. It was at this tournament in 2016 that India’s great Neeraj Chopra announced himself. The veteran set the all-time record with a throw of 86.48m, a mark that still stands as the world U20 best.
Indian athletes failed to win a medal at the event since Chopra set the world record, but the decade-long wait was ended by Ashish Yadav. The youngster had qualified for the final after a throw of 69.80m. Apart from Yadav, T Dharanidharan also made the final with a 68.07m.
Yadav also came to beating his personal best of 74.48m, but marginally fell short. Still, he returned home with a silver medal. Yadav’s series was 69.96m, x, 74.09m, 72.31m, 70.62m, 67.98m.
The gold medal was won by South Africa’s Jan Hendrik Heymans, who was way ahead of his competitors, throwing a staggering 80.50m. His first throw of 76.92 would also have earned him the gold medal, but he continued to push for a longer distance. Meanwhile, James of Dominica finished third with 73.89m. Dharanidharan was placed sixth with 72.35m.