Indian javelin throwers all set to write another exciting chapter at global track and field in Japan

Indian javelin throwers will be the main attraction at the September 13 to 21 Tokyo World Athletics Championships in Japan. Two-time Olympic and world medallist Neeraj Chopra, is defending champion and has got a wild card entry. In addition to Chopra, two more javelin throwers—Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh are eligible to compete in Japan through world rankings quota.

There is also chance of Rohit Yadav to make cut after his gold medal winning show at the just concluded National Inter-State Athletics Championships in Chennai. If that happens, India will have a maximum quota of four throwers allowed for a country at the world championships.

The overall strength of the Indian contingent is likely to be between 14 to 15, subject to the final list of eligible athletes to be published by World Athletics on August 27, and approval of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) selection panel meeting on August 28.

This season, Sachin has emerged the second-best Indian javelin thrower. On his way to silver at the Gumi Asian meet in South Korea, he hurled javelin to 85.16m.

Rohit, the fourth javelin thrower also has a bright chance to board a flight to Japan through world ranking quota. As per World Athletics Road to Tokyo rankings, in addition to wild card, three quota places are allotted to each national federation.

At the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, three Indian javelin throwers were in top six. While Neeraj went on to win gold, Kishore Kumar Jena finished fifth and DP Manu sixth, respectively. Rohit also qualified but could not compete due to injury.

In the women’s javelin, Annu Rani has cemented her place through world ranking quota. She had three creditable performances of plus 60m in August that considerably improved her world ranking.

However, there was a big setback for Inda’s star distance runner Avinash Sable. He recently got injured and will not compete in the men’s 3000m steeplechase in Japan. Sable had qualified through entry standards at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Multiple national record holder and Asian champion, Gulveer Singh will make his debut at the global track and field meet. He has qualified in the men’s 5,000m track event and is likely to be eligible for 10,000m through the world ranking quota.

Gulveer had clocked 12:59.77 in February in Boston which was better than the World Athletics entry standard of 13:01.00 in men’s 5,000m. Gulveer’s season best of 27:00.22 for 25-lap race was set earlier this year in USA.

India’s rising sprinter Animesh Kujur has cemented his place in men’s 200m through world ranking quota.

Triple jumper—Praveen Chithravel has achieved Worlds entry standard while Abdulla Aboobacker has good world ranking quota points.

AFI could field two athletes in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. While Parul Chaudhary has achieved entry standard at Gumi Asian championships, Ankita Dhyani has scraped through the world ranking quota.

Parul’s season best is 9:12.46, while Ankita’s personal best is 9:31.99 clocked in Germany in July.

Priyanka has also booked her ticket through the world ranking quota in the women’s 35 km race walk. Her season best of 2:56:34 was clocked earlier this year in Melbourne.

Race walkers Servin Sebastian and Akshdeep Singh have earned enough world ranking quota points in the men’s 20km race walk.

In the men’s 35 km race walk, Ram Baboo is through by virtue of world ranking quota.

But seasoned race walker Sandeep Kumar will have to wait for the World Athletics final list of eligible athletes as he is on the borderline.

The big absence will be men’s 4x400m relay team that failed to qualify. The Indian relay team had given a stunning performance to finish fifth in the last edition of world championship in Hungary.

ENDS