For the first time, India will have four representatives in one event at the World Athletics Championships with defending champion Neeraj Chopra being joined by three compatriots in the javelin throw competition of the mega event to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
Apart from Neeraj, who won his Olympic gold medal in the Japanese capital four years ago, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav will line up in the javelin throw qualification on September 17, with the final scheduled the next day.
They are part of a 19-member squad – 14 men and five women – announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) on Sunday.
Sachin and Yashvir qualified by rankings while Rohit received an invitation after the withdrawal of Spanish thrower Manu Quijera.
“I’m particularly pleased that we have four javelin throwers who have qualified. The last time too there were four, but Rohit Yadav was injured and could not participate. And we had all of them in the finals in the top six. So we hope that this time too they’ll all be in the finals,” former AFI president and current World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla said.
Apart from Neeraj, steeplechaser Parul Chaudhary, triple jumper Praveen Chithravel and middle-distance runner Gulveer Singh are the other athletes who qualified directly for the championships.
Long jumper Sreeshankar Murali came out of nowhere to book a berth at the last moment while Sarvesh Anil Kushare secured his spot in the men’s high jump. Animesh Kujur became the first-ever Indian male sprinter to qualify for the 200m at the elite stage.
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Gulveer Singh and Pooja are the only two athletes who will be featuring in two events. While Pooja qualified in the 1500m via rankings, a couple of withdrawals meant that she was invited for the 800m as well. Same was the case with Gulveer, who qualified for the 5000m by entry standards and was invited for the 10,000m after withdrawals.
Tejas Shirse has been invited in the men’s 110m hurdles ensuring India’s participation in the event for the first time since the 2017 World Championships where Siddhanth Thingalaya failed to progress beyond the heats.
Avinash Sable and Nandini Agarsara were also eligible to compete, but were ruled out due to injuries. Avinash had a fall at the Monaco Diamond League while Nandini is nursing an elbow injury.
“We have organized a pre-competition training camp in Tokyo from September 4-9,” said Sumariwalla.
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Chopra is expected to arrive on September 5 while the other javelin throwers will join him on September 10.
Indian squad for World Athletics Championships 2025
Men’s: Neeraj Chopra, Yashvir Singh, Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav (Javelin Throw), Gulveer Singh (5000m, 10000m), Animesh Kujur (200m), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles), Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker (Triple Jump), Sreeshankar Murali (Long Jump), Ram Baboo, Sandeep Kumar (35km Racewalk), Servin Sebastian (20km Racewalk), Sarvesh Anil Kushare (High Jump)
Women’s: Parul Chaudhary, Ankita Dhyani (3000m steeplechase), Annu Rani (Javelin Throw), Priyanka (35km Racewalk), Pooja (800m, 1500m)
