Much like Dua Lipa, one attempt was all it took for Neeraj Chopra.
India’s star javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist sealed his place in the men’s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Competing in Group A of the qualifiers at the Tokyo National Stadium, the 27-year-old registered an 84.85m throw—comfortably surpassing the automatic qualifying mark of 84.50m.
According to competition rules, any athlete who achieves the mark or ranks among the top 12 performers advances to the medal round. Chopra, currently ranked world No. 2, needed just his first throw to qualify.
A Rivalry Renewed
The final, scheduled for Thursday, promises a blockbuster clash as Chopra faces Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem for the first
time since the Paris 2024 Olympics.
In Paris, Nadeem stunned the field with a career-best throw of 92.97m, winning gold. Chopra’s best effort of 89.45m earned him silver. This week in Tokyo gives the Indian ace a chance to reclaim bragging rights against his long-time rival.
Nadeem, who underwent knee surgery in July, has competed sparingly this season. His only outing came at the Asian Championships in Korea in May, where he claimed gold. Despite limited preparation, his return adds intrigue to the Tokyo showdown.
Chopra’s Form and Record
Chopra holds the Indian national record and his personal best at 90.23m, achieved earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League. He is also the defending world champion, having won gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest with a throw of 88.17m—the first Indian ever to achieve the feat.
Two years ago in Budapest, Nadeem had settled for silver with 87.82m, a result that flipped at last year’s Olympics. Their rivalry has since become one of the most compelling storylines in world athletics.
Sachin Yadav Qualifies For Javelin Final
Chopra will not be India’s only representative in the javelin final. Sachin Yadav also advanced with an 83.67m throw, placing sixth in Group A and 10th overall.
However, it was disappointment for Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh, who finished 28th and 30th respectively out of 37 competitors across both groups.
Mixed Fortunes in Other Events For India
India’s campaign in other disciplines was less successful.
In the men’s triple jump, the automatic qualifying mark was set at 17.10m.
Praveen Chithravel managed 16.74m, finishing eighth in Group B and 15th overall, missing the final.
Abdulla Aboobacker reached 16.33m, which placed him 10th in Group A and 24th overall.
In the men’s 200m heats, Animesh Kujur, the first Indian sprinter ever to qualify for the World Championships, clocked 20.77 seconds but finished last in his race, failing to progress to the semifinals.
