Mumbai: Ashish Yadav strolled back to the seating area adjacent to the javelin throw runway with undeniable confidence, his shoulders relaxed.
Event Context
With a confident stride, he walked away after launching the javelin 74.09 meters, a throw that secured him the silver medal in the men’s javelin event at the U-20 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday night. This achievement marks a significant milestone on two fronts.
Over the past ten years, Indian athletes have been increasingly recognized at elite youth events. Yet, Yadav’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he ended a decade-long dry spell, becoming only the second Indian to claim a javelin medal at the U-20 World Championships. His impressive third throw on the night placed him in a prestigious group, joining Neeraj Chopra. Additionally, he made history by putting India on the medals table at Eugene.
A few hours following his achievement, Chopra graciously welcomed him to the javelin fraternity. “It’s always a great feeling to see Indian athletes excel internationally; this one feels especially meaningful for me as a javelin thrower,” Chopra shared on social media.
Chopra had made his own mark at the U-20 World Championships in 2016, setting a junior global record with a throw of 86.48 meters—a record that remains unbeaten. This success paved his way to numerous accolades, including gold medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games, the 2021 Olympics, and the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He congratulated Yadav, stating, “Super proud of you, Ashish, on your Silver at the U-20 Worlds; this is just the beginning!”
In comparison to Chopra’s illustrious career, Yadav’s journey has been more understated. Originating from humble beginnings in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, where he practiced with wooden javelins near dry ponds, Yadav now serves in the army and has progressed significantly in the sport. Just two years ago, the 19-year-old supported his father with their milk distribution business until his uncle, Dharam Raj Yadav—who recently won gold at the 2026 Federation Cup—urged him to devote more time to athletics.
Dharam Raj isn’t the only athlete in the family; his aunt is Punam Yadav, a bronze medalist in weightlifting from the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Young Ashish aims to elevate the family legacy even further.
At Hayward Field—where Chopra also won silver at the 2022 World Championships—Yadav started with a throw of 69.96 meters, putting him in fourth place initially. After a foul on his second attempt, he secured his silver medal with a throw of 74.09 meters, finishing behind South Africa’s Jan-Hendrik Heymans, who achieved an impressive throw of 80.5 meters in his sixth attempt.
This accomplishment helps assuage the disappointment Yadav faced after finishing fifth at the U-20 Asian Athletics Championships in Hong Kong in May.
The other Indian competitor in the javelin throw final, T Dharanidharan, finished sixth with a best throw of 72.35 meters. In the men’s 400 meters, Mohammed Ashfaq also finished sixth with a time of 46.20 seconds, having set a U-20 national record of 45.81 seconds in the heats and running 46.0 seconds in the semifinals.
Ultimately, it was Yadav’s performance that brought pride to India on this memorable day, marking the country’s first medal at the U-20 World Championships.
