India had been waiting 10 years for another World U20 Championships medal in men’s javelin.

That wait finally ended on August 8, 2026, when Indian thrower Ashish Yadav won the silver medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The achievement carries an obvious comparison because the last Indian to win a men’s javelin medal at the championships was Neeraj Chopra, who captured gold in 2016.

A decade later, Yadav became only the second Indian to win a medal in the event at the global U20 level.

Yadav had already shown his potential before reaching Eugene. At India’s qualification competitions earlier in 2026, he recorded a 72.27-meter throw, securing the World U20 qualifying standard.

His silver now gives Indian athletics another name to watch in the javelin.

Of course, following in Neeraj Chopra’s footsteps comes with enormous expectations. Chopra went from becoming the 2016 world junior champion to winning Olympic, World Championship and Asian Games titles, eventually becoming one of India’s biggest sporting icons.

Yadav’s future is still unwritten.