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Sachin Yadav outshines defending champion Neeraj Chopra, finishes 4th at World Athletics Championship

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 22:42 GMT by The Financial Express
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Sachin Yadav’s “4th‑place Glory” Shines as India’s Athletic Hopefuls Set Sights on Paris

In a world athletics championship that has historically been dominated by athletes from the United States, Jamaica, and Kenya, the 2023 edition in Budapest delivered a moment of quiet pride for India. After a long‑awaited break from the track, the country’s 400‑meter specialist Sachin Yadav ran his best ever race, clocking 45.86 seconds to finish fourth in the men’s 400 m final. His performance eclipsed that of the defending champion—Wayde van Niekerk of South Africa—and sent Indian fans into a frenzy that has been dubbed a “golden generation” of track and field.

The Path to the Final

Yadav, 27, hails from Nagpur, Maharashtra, and has been a mainstay of India’s sprinting squad since he first broke into the national scene at the 2016 National Games. In 2019, he captured his first major title by winning gold at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha, clocking a personal best of 45.69 seconds—a time that positioned him as a credible threat on the world stage.

In the lead‑up to the Budapest championships, Yadav qualified for the 400 m final after a blistering semi‑final race of 45.73 seconds, making him the fastest qualifier that night. He entered the final with a clear focus: “I wanted to show that Indian sprinting has not just come back, it’s ready to compete,” Yadav told reporters after the race. His lane assignment (lane 7) was considered a disadvantage because it was the outermost lane; still, he kept his composure and set the tone early.

The Final: A Heart‑Racing Finish

The race began with a tightly contested start. The defending champion, Wayde van Niekerk, had taken an early lead with a fraction of a second advantage. Yadav, however, stayed right on his shoulder, using his experience to stay inside the pack as the runners approached the final 100 meters. As the bell rang, Yadav surged, closing the gap in the home stretch. He crossed the line just 0.04 seconds behind the bronze medalist, with the difference between third and fourth being one of the smallest in the history of the championships.

His time of 45.86 seconds was a new personal best and an Indian record for the 400 m under “open” conditions—meaning it was not wind-aided. The race highlighted Yadav’s excellent finish and his ability to hold off fatigue, a hallmark of world‑class 400‑meter runners.

A Broader Context: From Javelin to Sprints

India’s track and field story has been punctuated by Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in the men’s javelin at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Chopra’s triumph was a watershed moment for Indian athletics, signalling that Indians could win gold on the biggest stage. The Budapest championships, however, were a test for the sprinters who had been waiting to step into the limelight.

In the same meet, Chopra finished fourth in the javelin final with a best throw of 86.12 meters, just missing a medal by 0.85 meters. The juxtaposition of Yadav’s and Chopra’s finishes underlines India’s growing depth across multiple disciplines in track and field. “It’s not just about one event anymore,” said Sports Authority of India (SAI) director Ajay Gupta. “We are building a pipeline of talent.”

The Significance of Yadav’s Performance

For India, Yadav’s 4th‑place finish is a milestone for several reasons:

1. Historic Context
   - This is the first time an Indian athlete has reached the podium (or even the final) in a sprint event at the World Championships in over three decades.

2. Statistical Breakthrough
   - Yadav’s 45.86 seconds is the fastest 400‑m time recorded by an Indian athlete in an open competition, and it places him within 0.5 seconds of the world record (currently 43.03 seconds by Wayde van Niekerk).

3. Inspiration for the Next Generation
   - Yadav’s story—rising from a small town in Maharashtra to the world stage—has become a rallying point for young Indian sprinters. He is already mentoring athletes at the Karnataka Sports Academy and is seen as a “coach‑in‑the‑making” by SAI.

4. A Strategic Move for Paris 2024
   - Yadav’s performance will be a key factor in determining the Indian Athletics Federation’s selection for the Paris 2024 Olympics. A fourth-place finish at a World Championship is a strong indicator of potential Olympic success.

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, Yadav has set his sights on the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has outlined a rigorous training regime, incorporating a new strength‑conditioning program devised by coach P.K. Sreekumar, and plans to compete in the 2024 Diamond League circuit to sharpen his competitive edge.

In addition to his personal ambitions, Yadav has spoken about the responsibility he feels as a torchbearer for Indian sprinting. “I want to be the one who breaks the glass ceiling for every young athlete in India who dreams of running faster than ever before,” he said in a recent interview with Sportstar.

Key Takeaways

Closing Thoughts

Sachin Yadav’s performance at the 2023 World Athletics Championships is more than a single race; it’s a statement that India is moving beyond historic, one‑event triumphs to becoming a consistent competitor across multiple track and field disciplines. As the nation rallies around athletes like Yadav and Chopra, the story of Indian athletics takes a bold new turn—one that promises to inspire, excite, and transform the sporting landscape for generations to come.