Neeraj Chopra's Tokyo Challenge: Injury and Lessons

Neeraj Chopra returned to Tokyo, the site of his historic Olympic win, but faced a stark reality check as he finished eighth in the men's javelin at the World Championships. This downturn came as he secretly battled a back injury for weeks.

In the iconic venue where he previously won India's first Olympic athletics gold, Chopra managed a throw of 84.03 meters, falling short of his qualifying performance. Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott claimed victory with an 88.16-meter throw, with Anderson Peters and Curtis Thompson rounding out the podium.

Chopra expressed his confusion over the performance, revealing recent back issues. He stated that normally he remains in top ranks, citing the importance of fitness in javelin. Despite the setback, he's committed to refining his technique and revisiting his training regime.

(With inputs from agencies.)