Neeraj Chopra kept his title defence hopes alive by qualifying for the men&rsquo;s javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Wednesday. 
The 27-year-old, who struck gold in Budapest in 2023, needed 84.5m for automatic qualification. 
He delivered instantly, clearing 84.85m on his very first attempt &mdash; reminiscent of his Olympic triumph at the same venue in 2021.
Germany&rsquo;s Julian Weber, fresh off his Diamond League title, had a shaky start with 82.29m but bounced back strongly to qualify with an impressive 87.21m throw. 
Group A also featured major names such as 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott, Tokyo silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch, and Brazil&rsquo;s Luiz da Silva. 
Group B will see reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, two-time world champion Anderson Peters, and Sri Lanka&rsquo;s emerging talent Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage in action.
For India, this championship marks its largest-ever presence in men&rsquo;s javelin, with Chopra joined by Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, and Rohit Yadav.
Chopra claimed his maiden World Championships crown in 2023 with a massive 88.17m throw, becoming the first Asian javelin thrower to take gold. 
Retaining the title, however, will be a tough challenge. 
Weber has already thrown a season-best 91.51m and defeated Chopra in last month&rsquo;s Diamond League Final, while Nadeem &mdash; now back from calf surgery &mdash; remains a dangerous contender.
Earlier this year, Chopra finally breached the 90m mark with a 90.23m effort in Doha, but his form has been inconsistent, producing just one other throw beyond 88m in 2025. 
With the Tokyo final looming, fans can expect a thrilling contest among the sport&rsquo;s elite.

Neeraj Chopra qualifies for javelin final Tokyo

Neeraj Chopra clears 84.85m on first attempt to reach javelin final at World Championships

Neeraj Chopra Qualifies For Javelin Final Tokyo

Neeraj Chopra clears 84.85m on first attempt to reach javelin final at World Championships

September 17, 2025 | 17:40 IST