Neeraj Chopra Returns to Tokyo Seeking Glory at 2025 World Athletics Championships

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is back at Tokyo’s National Stadium, the site of his historic 2021 Olympic gold, to compete in the men’s javelin at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. Now 27, Chopra aims to reclaim dominance in a field stacked with global talent, including Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, Germany’s Julian Weber, and Brazil’s Luiz da Silva.

Chopra enters as defending champion, having secured India’s first-ever athletics world title in Budapest 2023 with a throw of 88.17m. However, his fierce rivalry with Nadeem has intensified since the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the Pakistani star threw 92.97m to win gold, leaving Chopra with silver despite an 89.45m effort. Earlier this year, Chopra broke the 90m barrier for the first time, setting a national record of 90.23m in Doha, though he currently ranks third worldwide.

The men’s javelin qualification begins Wednesday, with Chopra competing in Group A and Nadeem in Group B. The automatic qualifying mark is set at 84.50m, with 12 spots available for Thursday’s final. India’s challenge also includes Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, and Yashvir Singh.

The competition is fierce, with Weber leading the 2025 season at 91.51m, while two-time world champion Anderson Peters, 2012 Olympic gold medalist Keshorn Walcott, and Czech star Jakub Vadlejch also join the fray.

In women’s javelin, India’s Annu Rani, an Asian Games gold medalist, will compete against world leader Victoria Hudson of Austria and reigning champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan. The women’s qualifiers start Friday, with the final on Saturday.

For Indian fans, Chopra’s return to Tokyo is deeply symbolic. Once again, the stadium that witnessed his breakthrough will host another chapter in his extraordinary journey. Live coverage will be available on Star Sports Select and Disney+ Hotstar.