Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Ashish Yadav's Silver Opens India's U20 Worlds Medal Account
Javelin throw is a sport in which athletes throw a long spear as far as they can.
Ashish Yadav is a 19-year-old athlete from India who is very good at this sport.
He competed at the World Athletics U20 Championships, a big competition for the world's best athletes under 20, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Ashish threw his javelin 74.09 meters, which was far enough to win the silver medal, the second-best prize.
It was India's first medal of the entire championship.
Another Indian athlete, T Dharanidharan, also threw in the final and finished sixth.
The gold medal went to Jan-Hendrik Heymans from South Africa, who threw 80.50 meters, while Addison James from Dominica won the bronze.
Famous Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, who won gold at this very event in 2016, posted on X that he was super proud of Ashish.
Ashish even competed while still recovering from a knee injury, and his throw was only 40 centimeters short of his personal best.
He comes from a farming family in Uttar Pradesh and trains in Haryana, hoping to follow in Chopra's footsteps.
Ashish Yadav won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw with a third-round throw of 74.09m, India's first medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans won gold with an 80.50m throw in his sixth and final attempt, the season's U20 world lead.
Dominica's Addison James took bronze with 73.89m, while India's other finalist, T Dharanidharan, finished sixth with 72.35m.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra congratulated 19-year-old Yadav on X, calling the silver 'just the start' for the youngster.
Yadav competed despite recovering from a knee injury; his throw was 40cm short of his personal best of 74.49m, set in Patiala in March.
- Who
- Ashish Yadav, a 19-year-old Indian javelin thrower from Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, congratulated by two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra
- What
- Won the silver medal in the men's javelin throw with a third-round throw of 74.09m, opening India's medal account at the World Athletics U20 Championships
- When
- Saturday, August 8, 2026, the third day of the championships
- Where
- Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Why
- His 74.09m throw placed him second, behind South Africa's Jan-Hendrik Heymans, who won gold with an 80.50m final-round throw
- Event
- World Athletics U20 Championships
- Venue
- Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Medal
- Silver (men's javelin throw)
- Winning Throw
- 74.09m (third round)
- Gold Medalist
- Jan-Hendrik Heymans (South Africa), 80.50m
- Bronze Medalist
- Addison James (Dominica), 73.89m
- Other Indian Finalist
- T Dharanidharan, 6th, 72.35m
- Historical Note
- First Indian javelin medal at junior Worlds since Neeraj Chopra's 2016 gold (86.48m world junior record)
Sources
Neeraj Chopra congratulates Ashish Yadav on World U20 Athletics Championships silver
Ashish Yadav Bags Silver In Javelin As India Open Medal Account At World Athletics U20 Championships | Video
'Super proud of you': Neeraj Chopra congratulates Ashish Yadav on winning U20 Worlds silver
Ashish Yadav opens India”s medal account with javelin silver at World U20 Championships
