Neeraj Chopra to lead Indian challenge at 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships

Neeraj Chopra, the defending champion and two-time Olympic Games medallist, will spearhead Indian challenge at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships starting September 13 in Japan.

Some athletes have qualified through entry standards in their respective events, others through world ranking quota.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced a 19-member Tokyo-bound Indian track and field team on Sunday. Of the 19 members in the team, 14 are male and five are female athletes.

National men’s 110m hurdles champion Tejas Shirse, race walker Sandeep Kumar and Rohit Yadav have been included in the team through World Athletics ranking quota system.

Three Indian athletes were dropped from the national team as they were medically unfit, says AFI spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla.

“Avinash Sable (men’s 3000m steeplechase), Akshdeep Singh (20km race walk) and Nandini Agasara (heptathlon) were unfit for different reasons and have been dropped from the Tokyo bound team,” says Sumariwalla.

The javelin throwers will be the main attraction during the September 13 to 21 prestigious global event in Japan.

Four male javelin throwers have made the cut for the Worlds in Tokyo, says Sumariwalla, who is also vice-president of World Athletics.

“While Chopra is the defending champion and has got a wild card entry, three javelin throwers—Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav have made the cut through the Road to Tokyo world ranking quota system,” Sumariwalla adds.

In the women’s javelin throw, Asian Games champion Annu Rani has earned a ticket to Tokyo through a world ranking quota.

In women’s 3000m steeplechase—Parul Chaudhary and Ankita will represent India at the Worlds in Japan.

The Indian team will reach Japan in the first week of September to get acclimatise to local weather conditions, says chief national coach Radhakrisnan Nair. “The pre-training camp in Tokyo will start from September 4 to 9,” Nair says.

Distance runner Gulveer Singh will reach Japan from the USA on September 4 while Neeraj Chopra will join the camp on September 5.

Team

Men: Animesh Kujur (200m), Gulveer Singh (5,000m/10,000m), Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles) Sarvesh Anil Kushare (high jump), Murali Sreeshankar (long jump), Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump), Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav (all javelin throw), Servin Sebastian (20km race walk), Ram Baboo and Sandeep Kumar (35km race walk).

Women: Pooja (800m/1500m), Parul Chaudhary, Ankita (3000m steeplechase), Annu Rani (javelin throw), Priyanka (35km race walk).

Tags : Neeraj Chopra, Athletics, World Championships, Tokyo, Avinash Sable, Nandini Agasara