Indian Javelin Star Neeraj Chopra Begins World Title Defence at 2025 Championships in Tokyo Today
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra is set to begin his title defence in the qualification round of the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, today. India made history this time by having four athletes in the competition, led by Neeraj Chopra and joined by Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, and Rohit Yadav.
Chopra will compete in Group A alongside Germany’s Diamond League champion Julian Weber, 2012 Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, Czech veteran Jakub Vadlejch, and fellow Indian athlete Sachin Yadav. The event is scheduled to begin at 3:40 PM Indian Time.
Group B features Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic gold medalist from Paris last year. Alongside him are Grenada’s two-time world champion Anderson Peters, 2015 world champion Julius Yego, Brazil’s Luiz da Silva, India’s Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, and Sri Lanka’s promising young talent, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage.
Chopra is aiming for his third World Championship medal, having already clinched gold in Budapest in 2023 and silver in the 2022 edition held in the USA. He also won a silver medal to his collection at the Paris Olympics last year.
A total of 37 athletes are competing for 12 spots in the final, which will take place tomorrow. The automatic qualification mark is set at 84.50 metres.
In the women’s javelin throw, Asian Games gold medallist Annu Rani will lead the Indian challenge. The women’s qualification rounds will be held on Friday, with Group A starting at 4:00 PM and Group B at 5:30 PM. The final is scheduled for Saturday at 5:35 PM.
