Neeraj Chopra Begins Title Defence Against Rivals
In an attempt to become the third male javelin thrower to accomplish this feat, Neeraj Chopra defends his World Championship title against elite opponents.
In the qualification round here on Wednesday, India’s javelin standout Neeraj Chopra will start defending his World Championship title against a formidable field that also includes Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and Diamond League champion Julian Weber of Germany.
Neeraj will try to become the third male javelin thrower in history to win the gold medal at the World Championships again, this time in Budapest in 2023.
The other two who have won the world championships title twice in a row are Anderson Peters of Grenada (2019, 2022) and Czech great Jan Zelezny (1993, 1995), who currently coaches Neeraj.
Neeraj will have the opportunity to exact revenge on Nadeem for finishing second in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris when they first meet.
However, as Neeraj and Nadeem were split into two groups in the qualifying round, their matchup is not scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, they are anticipated to face off in the championship round.
The remainder of the field consists of Weber, Peters, Julius Yego of Kenya, the 2015 global champion, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, the 2012 Olympic champion, veteran Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, and Luiz da Silva of Brazil, another 90-meter thrower.
With Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, and Rohit Yadav joining Neeraj on the field—the most of any competing nation—it would be a historic contest for India.
While the other three advanced through the global rankings, Neeraj, the reigning champion, was given a wild card.
The top 12 or those who hit the automatic qualifying mark of 84.50 meters will go to Thursday’s final round.
The 28-year-old Nadeem entered the World Championships having only competed in one event during the season.
Neeraj plans to defend the world championship he won in Budapest in 2023 by becoming the third male javelin thrower in history.
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