New Delhi: Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra will spearhead a 19-member Indian contingent at the World Athletics Championships 2025, scheduled in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. For the first time in history, India will field four men’s javelin throwers at the global showpiece, with Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, and Rohit Yadav joining Chopra.
This marks a repeat of the last edition, where four Indians had also qualified, though Rohit had to withdraw due to injury. The current squad, which includes five women athletes, was finalised after a meeting of the Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) senior selection committee.
Major Omissions Despite Qualification
India had sent 28 athletes, including seven relay runners, to the 2023 Championships in Hungary. However, this time no Indian relay team has qualified, and three top athletes have missed out due to medical reasons despite meeting qualification standards.
Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), who breached the automatic entry mark, was ruled out after undergoing ACL surgery in July.
Akshdeep Singh (20km race walk) qualified via world ranking but failed to clear medical fitness.
Nandini Agasara (heptathlon), who earned her spot as Asian champion, is yet to recover from an elbow injury.
“Sable, Akshdeep and Nandini are not in the team as they are not medically fit,” AFI president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed.
As defending champion, Chopra received a wild card entry, allowing India to field four athletes instead of the usual three in the men’s javelin. The 27-year-old also surpassed the 85.50m direct qualifying mark, while Sachin, Yashvir, and Rohit entered through world rankings.
Rohit, who was initially outside the 36-athlete cut-off list, secured his Tokyo berth after higher-ranked competitors withdrew, paving the way for India’s historic javelin representation.
Full Indian Team for World Championships 2025
Men: Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, Rohit Yadav (javelin); Murali Sreeshankar (long jump); Gulveer Singh (5000m & 10,000m); Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker (triple jump); Sarvesh Anil Kushare (high jump); Animesh Kujur (200m); Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles); Servin Sebastian (20km walk); Ram Baboo, Sandeep Kumar (35km walk).
Women: Parul Chaudhary, Ankita Dhyani (3000m steeplechase); Annu Rani (javelin); Priyanka Goswami (35km walk); Pooja (800m & 1500m).
Chopra, who clinched India’s first-ever World Championships gold in Budapest 2023, once again carries the nation’s best medal hopes in Tokyo.
