India's Top 5 moments at World Athletics Championships history

India have won only three medals in the history of the World Athletics Championships

The World Athletics Championship 2025 is set to take place from September 13 to 21 at the Japan National Stadium in Shinjuku City, Tokyo. It will be the 20th edition of the global tournament, which officially started in 1983. India has participated in every edition of the World Championships and managed to secure only three medals.

The 2025 edition will witness the 19-member contingent representing India. World No. 1 javelin thrower and defending champion, Neeraj Chopra, will again be the biggest medal hope for the country.

Meanwhile, Annu Rani, Priyanka Goswami, Murali Sreeshankar, and Abdulla Aboobacker will look to use their Worlds experience to fare well in the competition.

Feels great to end 2023 with a season best throw at the @19thAGofficial! Incredibly happy for @Kishore78473748 too. 🇮🇳 Thank you all for your support, it has been a fantastic season. All eyes on 2024 now! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/9BYrf8UWo7

— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) October 5, 2023

Animesh Kujur, Gulveer Singh, Sachin Yadav, and Pooja are among the athletes who will make their maiden appearance in the World Athletics Championships.

On that note, let’s take a look at India’s top five moments in the tournament’s history.

#5 Lalita Babar’s historic campaign in 2015

The World Athletics Championship at Beijing in 2015 saw Lalita Babar clocking a time of 9:27.86 and finishing fourth in her heat of the 3000m steeplechase event. As a result, she became the first Indian woman to qualify for the steeplechase final.

In the final, Lalita finished eighth with a time of 9:29.64. Due to her exploits in the Worlds and Asian Championships, she was conferred with the Sportsperson of the Year award in 2016.

#4 India achieves best-ever finish in relay events in 2023

The Indian men’s relay team etched their name into the history books in the 2023 edition of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest. The quartet of Muhammed Anas Yahiya, Amoj Jacob, Muhammed Ajmal Variyathodi and Rajesh Ramesh broke the Asian record with their timing of 2.59.05s and progressed to the final.

The final saw them posting a time of 2:59.92 to finish fifth, which resulted in India achieving their best finish in the relay events.

#3 Neeraj Chopra’s silver medal in 2022

Tokyo Olympics gold medalist, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, continued his impressive run in the 2022 World Athletics Championship in Eugene. Chopra finished first in his qualifying heat with a throw of 88.39m.

In the final, his throw was measured at 88.13m, as he clinched a silver medal. It was the first-ever medal for India after 19 years.

#2 Neeraj Chopra’s gold medal in 2023

Neeraj Chopra managed to bring the yellow metal home in the 2023 edition of the Worlds. It is the first-ever gold medal win for the Indian contingent despite their participation since 1983.

In the qualifying heat, Chopra came first in his qualifying heat with a throw of 88.77m. Then, he finished first after throwing the javelin 88.17m and brought glory to the nation.

It will be interesting to see whether Neeraj Chopra can maintain his consistent run in the 2025 edition as well.

ALSO READ: List of Indian medalists at World Athletics Championships

#1 India’s first-ever medal at World Athletics Championships

Long jumper Anju Bobby George created history during the 2003 edition of the World Athletics Championships in Paris. With a jump of 6.59m, Anju finished third in her qualifying heat.

Then, she improved her jump to 6.70m in the final to win bronze and opened India’s account in the global event. 

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