New Delhi: The World Athletics Championships are set to begin in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to 21. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced
the country’s 19-member squad for the biggest tournament.
The 19-member squad includes 14 men and five women players across 15 events. Defending world Javelin champion Neeraj Chopra will be India’s best hope for a medal in the tournament.
For the first time in the country’s history, India have named four men’s javelin throwers for the mega event, with Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav also participating in the tournament.
India sent 28 athletes during the 2023 edition of the tournament in Hungary, which included seven relay racers in the team, but this time, the country failed to qualify for any relay event.
Apart from Neeraj, no Indian athletes are considered medal favourites on paper, but they could still surprise if they manage to deliver their personal bests. Here are the possible medal contenders from India.
Neeraj Chopra – Men’s Javelin Throw
As the leading contender, Neeraj is set to complete a historic hat-trick of medals at the World Athletics Championships, after winning a gold medal in 2023 and a silver in 2022.
The star javelin thrower has managed a stunning streak of finishing in the top two positions in his last 26 tournaments. This streak was started when Neeraj last visited Tokyo for the 2021 Olympic Games.
However, he will face a difficult challenge to defend his title, as he will face tough competition from Germany’s Julian Weber, the current World No. 1 with two 90m+ throws this season.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who is the reigning Olympic champion, will be in action for the first time since his victory in Paris. He can also offer a tough challenge to Neeraj in the World Athletics Championships
Murali Sreeshankar – Men’s Long Jump
Sreeshankar sealed his spot in the World Athletics Championships after playing five competitions within two months to be eligible for participating in the tournament. He returned to play from a career-threatening injury and still managed to qualify for one of the biggest competitions in the sport, showcasing his determination and quality. However, the next few days are not going to be easy for Sreeshankar as he will have to maintain his form.
Praveen Chithravel – Men’s Triple Jump
The triple jumper Praveen has delivered some great performances in this season so far, as he managed to cross the 17m mark twice. He also equalled his own national record of 17.37m during the season.
This record put him among the top eight triple jumpers this season. But he achieved this milestone five months ago and has been struggling to find his rhythm since then.
Sachin Yadav – Men’s Javelin Throw
Sachin Yadav is the newest addition to India’s strong javelin squad, securing his place in the mega tournament based on the ranking points, which he earned through some brilliant performances throughout the season.
The Indian javelin throwers have been delivering consistent performances globally and as a result India have included four javelin throwers for the first time in history. If Sachin manages to improve his personal best in Tokyo, then India might have a double podium finish in the tournament.
