World Championships: All eyes on Neeraj Chopra as javelin ace hunts another historic finish

Neeraj Chopra is stepping onto the World Championships stage with one clear mission; to defend not just his crown but also the 90m mark he crossed earlier this season. As he prepares for Thursday’s javelin final, the Indian star faces the ultimate test: holding off world-class rivals, including Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, in a contest that has become one of the sport’s fiercest battles.

Chopra secured his place in the final with ease, needing just one throw in qualification. His mark of 84.85m comfortably surpassed the automatic qualifying distance of 84.50m.

"I feel really good that I achieved automatic qualification in first round. Tomorrow is the main day. This is the main competition (of the year)," he said after his throw.

This marks the fifth consecutive time Chopra has qualified for a major final with his first attempt, having done so at the Tokyo Olympics (2020), the 2022 and 2023 World Championships, and the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Focus on form and training

Chopra, who crossed the 90m barrier earlier this season, has been working closely with coach Jan Zelezny to refine his technique.

"I feel good (coming into World Championships). I crossed 90m this year and am working on my technique (with coach Jan Zelezny). I just need to stay healthy and focussed for final. I am ready," he explained.

He also spoke about taking a break from competitions before the Diamond League Finals:

"I did my training because I did not train enough and I feel like okay I need some training. I did not feel okay I am ready for competition. That is why I took some time and I trained for the DL (Finals)."

Rivals in the mix

Germany’s Julian Weber also made it to the final with an impressive 87.21m throw after a shaky start, while his compatriot Sachin Yadav managed to scrape through after a tense wait. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion, left it late but qualified with his final attempt.

Rivalry rekindled

The Chopra–Nadeem rivalry has taken centre stage over the last few years. Chopra created history at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest when he became India’s first-ever world champion in athletics with a throw of 88.17m, while Nadeem secured silver with 87.82m.

However, the tables turned at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where Nadeem produced a massive throw of 92.97m to claim gold, pushing Chopra to silver with his 89.45m effort.

Neeraj Chopra, now 27, will be defending his world title against a field packed with big names. Alongside Nadeem and Weber, contenders include former world champion Anderson Peters and Kenya’s seasoned thrower Julius Yego.

The event begins around 4:00 pm IST today.