Neeraj Chopra qualifies for men's javelin throw final at World Athletics Championships 2025

A sports journalist passionate about the moments that go beyond the scoreboard.

Published at :September 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Modified at :September 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM

(Courtesy : @afiindia/Twitter)

Neeraj Chopra is a two-time medallist at World Athletics Championships.

India’s biggest medal hope at the World Athletics Championships 2025, Neeraj Chopra, booked his spot in the men’s javelin throw final with ease on Wednesday.

The defending champion needed just one attempt to cross the automatic qualification mark of 84.50m. His very first throw of 84.85m was enough to seal his place in final, scheduled for September 18, Thursday.

Only three athletes managed to cross the automatic qualification barrier on the day from Group A. The current world No. 1 and 2025 Diamond League champion, Julian Weber qualified with a strong throw of 87.21m in the same form that has seen him achieve the world-leading throw of 91.51m this season.

Neeraj Chopra qualifies for final!! 🇮🇳✨The reigning champion needed just one throw to breach the qualifying mark and book his spot in the medal round at World Athletics Championships 2025. 👏#WCHTokyo25 #Athletics pic.twitter.com/5EYeeaoh2Q
— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 17, 2025

On the other hand, Poland’s David Wegner followed at 85.67m to qualify for Thursday’s final. Chopra was third among the list. Fourth is Jakub Vadlejch with 84.11m.

Also Read: India at World Athletics Championships 2025 Day 5 Live Updates

Among the other Indians in Group A, Sachin Yadav finished fifth with a modest throw of 83.67m. He fell short just of the automatic mark but that doesn’t end his hopes as the final result depends on Group B results.

If fewer than 12 athletes achieve the direct qualification mark, then the remaining spots will be filled by the best performers until the final lineup has at least 12 throwers. If more than 12 cross the mark, all of them advance. So, there’s still a chance for Sachin.

Attention now turns to Group B, where the other two Indians Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav will aim to qualify for the final. Their results will decide if India can add more names alongside Chopra in the men’s javelin final.

Group B will also feature one of the biggest threats for Neeraj—the Paris Olympics gold medallist Arshad Nadeem, who holds a personal best of 92.97m. He is meeting the Indian ace for the first time since the 2024 Olympic Games.

Apart from that, Weber’s strong qualification performance, with a massive throw beyond 87m, poses a serious challenge for Chopra, especially since the German holds a 3-1 head-to-head edge this year.

How did Neeraj Chopra qualify for the javelin throw final?

Neeraj Chopra cleared the automatic qualification mark in his very first attempt, recording a throw of 84.85m to secure a direct spot in the final.

Who else qualified automatically alongside Neeraj Chopra in Group A?

Germany’s Julian Weber (87.21m) and Poland’s David Wegner (85.67m) crossed the automatic mark, while Jakub Vadlejch threw 84.11m, just short of the standard.

How did Sachin Yadav perform in the qualification round?

Sachin Yadav finished fifth in Group A with a best throw of 83.67m, narrowly missing the automatic mark. His fate now depends on the Group B results.

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Uzma Fatima

Uzma Fatima is a passionate sports journalist who believes every match has a story waiting to be told. Whether it's the grace of Olympic champions, the grit of tennis and badminton battles, or the drama of cricket’s highs and heartbreaks — she loves capturing the emotion behind the action. Off the field, she’s a Formula 1 enthusiast who never misses a race weekend.