‘The Only Thing On My Mind Is My Comeback’: Sachin Yadav Opens Up On Injury Battle | Exclusive

After three months of rehabilitation, Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav says he is around 90% recovered from an elbow injury and is determined to return to competition stronger, with a personal best firmly in his sights.

India's javelin thrower Sachin Yadav is beginning to see light at the end of a challenging period that has tested both his physical fitness and mental strength.

After an injury disrupted his 2026 campaign, the World Championships 2025 finalist has resumed throwing practice and is gradually rebuilding his rhythm, with a comeback now firmly on his agenda.

In an exclusive conversation with myKhel, the 26-year-old opened up about his recovery, the psychological challenges of missing major competitions and his determination to push his performance to another level.

"I have resumed training and have completed three to four throwing sessions. My elbow is doing well, and I am feeling better now. I will try to compete at the All India Police Athletics Championships. My injury has healed considerably, and I have also completed my rehabilitation. I have completed three to four throwing sessions and am now about 90% recovered. I underwent three months of rehabilitation, and my elbow is in a much better condition than before."

The update offers encouragement for an athlete whose progress over the past year had raised expectations of even greater achievements on the international stage.

However, after months away from his best competitive rhythm, the priority is now to complete his recovery and return without rushing the process.

Sachin revealed that the injury was more complicated than a routine setback, involving damage to multiple structures in his elbow. He first sustained the problem during the Indian Athletics Series-3 in New Delhi in April, after which he was sent for rehabilitation.

"I had one torn tendon and two torn ligaments. I first sustained the injury during the Indian Athletics Series 3 in New Delhi, after which I was sent for rehabilitation.

Currently, my physical condition is good, and my elbow stability has also improved. I am confident of making a strong comeback. As I have started throwing again, my rhythm is gradually returning, and I believe I will recover completely soon."

For a javelin thrower, whose event demands explosive power, precise technique and exceptional coordination, an elbow injury can be particularly disruptive. Returning to the throwing runway requires more than physical healing; it also demands the gradual restoration of confidence, stability and consistency.

That makes Yadav's latest progress significant. Having completed three months of rehabilitation and restarted throwing sessions, he is moving towards competition again.

His proposed appearance at the All India Police Athletics Championships could provide an opportunity to assess his readiness, subject to his recovery and preparation.

Yadav's current situation is a stark contrast to the momentum he built last year. The Uttar Pradesh athlete emerged as one of India's leading javelin prospects after winning silver at the Asian Championships in Gumi and recording a personal best of 86.27m at the World Championships in Tokyo.

His fourth-place finish at the global event, ahead of former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra, underlined his potential to compete against some of the world's best throwers.

He had also made headlines at the 2024 All India Police Athletics Championships with an impressive 84.21m throw, establishing himself as an athlete capable of producing big performances.

The 2026 season, however, has not unfolded as expected. He opened his campaign with 81.95m at the Indian Athletics Series-3, finished fifth at the Federation Cup with 79.07m and registered 79.18m on his Diamond League debut in Rome, where he finished eighth.

His most recent competition was the Inter-State Athletics Championships in Bhubaneswar, where he secured third place with a best throw of 82.32m.

The injury subsequently became a major obstacle to his plans, leaving him to watch opportunities pass by while concentrating on rehabilitation.

For an athlete who had made such rapid progress, the interruption was not merely physical. The prospect of missing major competitions can be difficult to process, particularly when a season begins with ambitions of building on previous achievements.

The 2025 National Games gold medalist Sachin acknowledged that thoughts about what might have been occasionally enter his mind. However, he is consciously choosing not to allow those questions to interfere with his preparation.

"Of course, these thoughts do cross my mind, but I try to ignore them because overthinking would only make me परेशान and prevent me from focusing on my game.

I try not to think too much about what might have happened if I had been able to compete at the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. I might have won a medal, but dwelling on such thoughts would only demotivate me.

The only thing on my mind is when I can make my comeback. Right now, I am focusing on preparing well for next year."

His response reflects a practical approach to a difficult phase in an athlete's career. There is little value in repeatedly revisiting competitions that an injury has made inaccessible. Instead, Yadav appears determined to concentrate on the factors he can control: recovery, training, technique and preparation.

For a competitor accustomed to measuring progress in metres, the immediate challenge is to accept that rebuilding form takes time. The next milestone is not necessarily a medal or a major championship appearance, but a safe and confident return to competition.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his return, Yadav has not lowered his ambitions. His focus remains on improving his own performance rather than measuring his progress against other athletes.

"I will try to break my personal best in my next competition. I believe in taking things step by step and improving gradually. My competition is not with others; it is with myself."

That mindset could prove important as he attempts to regain the form that carried him to fourth place at the World Championships. His personal best of 86.27m remains a significant benchmark, but his immediate task will be to rebuild competitive sharpness and establish that his elbow can withstand the demands of elite-level throwing.

A successful comeback will depend on patience as much as ambition. Returning too quickly could jeopardise the progress made during rehabilitation, while a measured approach would give him the opportunity to rebuild his performance on a stronger foundation.

Sachin Yadav's story is no longer simply about how far he can throw a javelin. For now, it is about how effectively he can navigate the difficult stretch between injury and a return to the highest level.

His performances in 2025 demonstrated that he possesses the ability to challenge established names on the world stage. The challenge in 2026 has been to protect that potential while overcoming a serious physical setback.

With his elbow reportedly around 90% recovered, rehabilitation completed and throwing practice resumed, there are encouraging signs. Nevertheless, his recovery will need to be judged by how he responds to the increasing demands of training and competition.

Yadav's ambitions remain clear: return to competition, regain his rhythm and eventually surpass his personal best. Whether that journey unfolds quickly or requires further patience, his immediate focus is on preparing for the next opportunity rather than dwelling on those he has missed.

As he puts it, the competition is not with others, but with himself. For Sachin Yadav, the next victory may begin long before he steps onto the runway again.