Sachin Yadav Shines with Javelin Silver as Kujur Breaks 200m Record at Asian Athletics Championships

Close contest sees Sachin Yadav narrowly miss gold to Arshad Nadeem; Animesh Kujur clocks historic 200m bronze in record time for India.

Arun Upadhayay 3 weeks agoLast Updated: June 8, 2025

20 3 minutes read

GUMI (SOUTH KOREA) — On a night when Indian athletics flirted with glory, Sachin Yadav nearly pulled off a seismic upset. With one of the throws of his life—85.16 metres, a personal best—he came within touching distance of gold in the men’s javelin final at the Asian Athletics Championships 2025. But just as the momentum swung his way, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem reminded the continent why he’s a reigning Olympic champion.

Nadeem’s final attempt, measured at 86.40m, denied Yadav what could have been the biggest win of his career. Still, the silver medal didn’t come with disappointment—it came with belief. India has another javelin star rising fast.

And on the track, another headline emerged. Animesh Kujur, already the national record holder in the 200 metres, bettered his own mark by clocking 20.32 seconds, good enough for a bronze—and good enough to signal the arrival of a new Indian name in sprinting.

Javelin Final: Sachin’s Coming-of-Age Moment

Few had Yadav circled as a medal contender before the event. With Chopra not competing and much of the pre-event chatter revolving around Nadeem, it was almost easy to miss the tall, quiet 24-year-old from Uttar Pradesh. But he had other plans.

It was in the fourth round that Yadav suddenly roared into contention. His javelin cut clean through the Gumi air, sailing past 85 metres and thudding into the turf with conviction. 85.16m, the board flashed. His best ever. For the first time, Nadeem looked rattled.

But champions rarely flinch. Nadeem responded with a clutch 86.40m, nudging past Yadav by just over a metre. That would hold. The gold was his, but the storyline belonged to both.

“It wasn’t just a silver. It was a statement,” said a member of India’s coaching staff after the event. “Sachin isn’t just part of the setup anymore—he’s one of the leaders now.”

Yashvir Singh’s Best Goes Under the Radar

While Yadav’s heroics took the spotlight, Yashvir Singh quietly delivered a strong performance of his own. His fifth-place finish may not have earned a medal, but his 82.57m throw marked a personal best. That bodes well for India, especially with the calendar leading into the World Championships.

With Neeraj Chopra—who threw 90.23m in Doha earlier this month—opting out of this event, India’s second line had the opportunity to show its worth. They didn’t disappoint.

Kujur Breaks the Clock, Breaks New Ground

In the men’s 200m final, all eyes were on Towa Uzawa, the Japanese sprinter tipped to win gold—and he did, in a blistering 20.12s. But what turned heads back home was Animesh Kujur, who ran a near-flawless bend and hung on in the home straight to grab third place.

His timing of 20.32 seconds sliced 0.08s off his own national record, which he had set earlier this year at the Federation Cup. That mark now stands not just as a record, but as a moment of reckoning for Indian sprinting.

Kujur is only the second Indian man to make the 200m podium at the Asian Championships. The last was Dharambir Singh, back in 2015.

“I didn’t overthink it,” Kujur said after the race. “I stuck to what we practiced, and it worked. I feel like I can go even quicker.”

His confidence wasn’t misplaced. He looked sharp out of the blocks, smooth through the curve, and composed under pressure—a combination that doesn’t come easy in a race this short.

Women’s 200m: A Learning Curve

India’s campaign in the women’s 200m final didn’t yield similar results. Jyothi Yarraji, best known for her performances in hurdles, ran a decent race but could only manage fifth, clocking 23.47s. Nithya Gandhe came in seventh with 23.90s.

China’s Chen Yujie proved untouchable, winning gold with 22.97s. India will likely regroup and recalibrate in the sprints ahead of the continental and Olympic qualifiers.

Medal Table: India Finishes Second

India closed out the championship with 24 medals in total—eight gold, ten silver, and six bronze. That tally placed them second overall, just behind China. It was a campaign marked by both familiar names and emerging talents stepping up under pressure.

The javelin unit again proved to be India’s strongest suit, but performances in sprints and field events signalled that the talent pool is broadening—and deepening.

A Shift in Indian Athletics

This wasn’t a tournament about one or two stars. It was about depth. In the absence of Chopra and a few other senior names, India’s next-gen stepped up. Yadav proved he can go toe-to-toe with the best. Kujur showed his sprinting isn’t a one-off. And Yashvir Singh quietly added another layer to India’s javelin reputation.

More than medals, it’s this shift—this attitude—that might matter most going into the World Championships and Olympic season. India doesn’t just want to show up anymore. It wants to win.

And now, more than ever, it knows how.

Credit – TOI

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Arun Upadhayay

Sports Contributor at Hindustan Herald | Web

Arun Upadhayay is a sports journalist and former district-level cricketer with over four years of experience in event production and digital content. Currently freelancing with the India Today Group, Arun brings a deep understanding of sports and storytelling. His work blends expert analysis, live event insights, and engaging coverage of the game.