Tokyo, Japan: India’s javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra has stormed into the World Athletics Championships 2025 men’s javelin final with a sensational first-attempt throw of 84.85m at Tokyo’s National Stadium.
Chopra, the reigning world and Olympic champion, needed just one throw to cross the automatic qualification mark of 84.50m, securing his spot in the final scheduled for Thursday at 3:53 PM (local time). His confident effort allowed him to skip his remaining attempts, saving energy for the title clash.
Neeraj Chopra Eyes Back-to-Back World Titles
After winning silver in Eugene (2022) and a historic gold in Budapest (2023), Chopra now aims to become only the third male javelin thrower in history to defend a World Championships gold medal. He will join the elite company of Jan Železný (1993, 1995) — his current coach — and Johannes Vetter (2019, 2022) if he succeeds.
Clash with Arshad Nadeem
Thursday’s final will also see Chopra face off against Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem for the first time since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Nadeem took gold with a 92.97m throw, leaving Chopra with silver at 89.45m. Fans across India and Pakistan are eagerly awaiting this blockbuster rivalry on the world stage.
Other Indian and Global Contenders
Three other Indian athletes are also competing: Sachin Yadav (Group A), Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh (Group B).
The field features strong competitors including:
- Julian Weber (Germany) – Diamond League Champion
- Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic) – Tokyo 2020 Silver Medalist
- Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago) – 2012 Olympic Champion
Weber secured qualification with a massive 87.21m throw on his second attempt after missing the mark in his first try.
Men’s Javelin Final: What to Expect
With just 12 athletes qualifying from 37 throwers across both groups, the final promises to be a high-pressure battle. Neeraj Chopra’s first-attempt qualification underlines his form and readiness as he looks to make history with consecutive World Championship golds.