Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra will begin his campaign to defend the men’s javelin throw crown at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo on Wednesday. The 27-year-old Indian star headlines a high-quality field that includes Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, Germany’s Diamond League champion Julian Weber and two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada.
Blockbuster rivalry resumes
This will be the first meeting between Chopra and Nadeem since their epic contest at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Nadeem had struck gold with a record-breaking 92.97m throw, while Chopra settled for silver with 89.45m. Their rivalry has been one of the most followed in athletics, and Tokyo promises another dramatic showdown.
Season leaders in the mix
Weber enters as the world leader in 2025 with a massive 91.51m, followed by Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva (91.00m). Chopra holds the third-best throw of the season, a national record 90.23m set in May, keeping him well in contention for another medal.
India’s largest-ever squad
India has its strongest representation yet in men’s javelin, with four athletes in the fray. Alongside Chopra, Sachin Yadav joins Group A, while Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh compete in Group B with Nadeem. Their participation marks India’s growing depth in the event.
Qualification round and schedule
A total of 37 throwers are divided into two groups. The automatic qualifying mark is 84.50m, or athletes must finish among the top 12 to progress to Thursday’s final. Chopra competes in Group A with Weber, Walcott, and Vadlejch, while Nadeem and Peters headline Group B.
The qualification begins at 3:40 PM IST today, with the final scheduled for Thursday at 3:53 PM IST. Chopra now aims to join Jan Zelezny and Anderson Peters as the only men to defend a javelin world title.
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