‘This Is Just The Start’: Neeraj Chopra Hails Ashish Yadav’s World U20 Silver

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra congratulated fellow Indian javelin thrower Ashish Yadav after the teenager won a silver medal at the World U20 Athletics Championships, calling the achievement particularly special from a fellow javelin thrower’s perspective.

Chopra praised Ashish in a post on X, writing, “Always a great feeling to see Indian athletes competing and winning at the International level, this one is little more special for me as a javelin thrower. Super proud of you Ashish on your Silver at the U-20 Worlds, this is just the start! 🚀”

Always a great feeling to see Indian athletes competing and winning at the International level, this one is little more special for me as a javelin thrower. Super proud of you Ashish on your Silver at the U-20 Worlds, this is just the start! 🚀 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/pEWEEaB5FZ

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) August 8, 2026

Chopra, who recently won silver at the Commonwealth Games, also backed the young thrower to achieve greater success in the future.

Ashish secured second place in the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 74.09 metres, which he produced on his third attempt. His performance earned India a podium finish at the global junior championship.

South Africa’s Heymans claimed gold with a throw of 80.50 metres, while Dominica’s James won bronze with 73.89 metres.

India’s T Dharanidharan finished sixth with a best effort of 72.35 metres.

Ashish’s silver adds to India’s growing presence in junior javelin and highlights the sport’s expanding profile in the country following Chopra’s success.

Chopra won javelin gold at the 2016 World U20 Championships with a then-world junior record of 86.48 metres. He went on to win Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024, becoming India’s most decorated track and field athlete.

Chopra is scheduled to compete at the Lausanne Diamond League later this year, where he is expected to face Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, the 2026 Commonwealth Games javelin champion who recorded an 89.75-metre throw in Glasgow.

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