 "Neeraj Chopra scripted a throw of 84.85m on his first attempt in the qualification round of World Athletics Championships 2025. Image: Reuters")
Neeraj Chopra qualified for the World Athletics Championships 2025 men’s javelin final with his very first throw at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Wednesday, September 17. The defending champion Neeraj, who won the World Championships gold in Budapest 2023, qualified for the final from Group A with a throw of 84.85m. He didn’t take any more throws after that.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who snatched the gold from Neeraj at the 2024 Paris Olympics, also qualified for the final from Group B. After two poor throws to start the event, Arshad made a strong comeback in the third and final attempt as he registered an 85.28m throw and sealed a spot in the summit clash.
Chopra is set to face Nadeem for the first time after the 2024 Paris Olympics, giving him a chance to avenge his second-place finish in the French capital. According to rules, those who touch the automatic qualifying mark of 84.50m or the best 12 finishers compete in the final round to be held on Thursday, September 18.
Two Indians to compete in final
Sachin Yadav also joined Chopra in the finals as the second Indian after his 83.67m effort placed him at sixth in Group A and 10th overall. Two other Indians, Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh missed out after finishing 28th and 30th respectively out of 37 competitors in Group A and Group B together.
Chopra has been clubbed with German star Julian Weber, who topped Group A and was second overall with a throw of 87.21m, 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, last edition bronze winner Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic and Sachin in the 19-man Group A on Wednesday.
The 18-strong Group B featured Nadeem, two-time world champion Anderson Peters, Kenya’s 2015 world champion Julius Yego, Brazillian 90m-plus thrower Luiz Da Silva, and Indians Rohit Yadav and Yash Vir Singh, and rising Sri Lankan Rumesh Pathirage among others.
Peters topped the qualification round with a season-best throw of 89.53m, giving enough indication that he could be roaring back to form after an indifferent season.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsDawid Wegner (85.67m) of Poland also reached the finals as the third automatic qualifier from Group A. Besides Peters and Nadeem, Kenya’s Julius Yego (85.96m) and Curtis Thompson (84.72m) of the USA crossed the automatic qualification mark from Group B.
Vadlejch (84.11m), Walcott (83.93m), and Cameron McEntyre (83.03m) of Australia and Pathirage (82.80m) completed the 12-man field for the final.
Full list of players to make the men’s javelin final
| Pos | Group | Athlete | Country | Result (m) | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Anderson Peters | GRN | 89.53 | Q |
| 2 | A | Julian Weber | GER | 87.21 | Q |
| 3 | B | Julius Yego | KEN | 85.96 | Q |
| 4 | A | Dawid Wegner | POL | 85.67 | Q |
| 5 | B | Arshad Nadeem | PAK | 85.28 | Q |
| 6 | A | Neeraj Chopra | IND | 84.85 | Q |
| 7 | B | Curtis Thompson | USA | 84.72 | Q |
| 8 | A | Jakub Vadlejch | CZE | 84.11 | q |
| 9 | A | Keshorn Walcott | TTO | 83.93 | q |
| 10 | A | Sachin Yadav | IND | 83.67 | q |
| 11 | B | Cameron McEntyre | AUS | 83.03 | q |
| 12 | B | Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage | SRI | 82.80 | q |
(With agency inputs)