As the 2025 athletics season picks up pace, the javelin throw continues to be a marquee discipline for Asia, with some of the world’s best talents emerging from the region.
The latest continental rankings as of May 25 reveal a competitive picture—India and Sri Lanka lead the way in the men’s field, while China and Japan dominate the women’s leaderboard.
Women’s Javelin: China’s Complete Control
The women’s top-10 list is a showcase of China’s remarkable depth in the event. Six Chinese throwers feature in the elite list, with three of them clearing the 64m mark.
Top 10 – Women’s Javelin (as of May 25, 2025):
- 🇨🇳 Ziyi Yan – 64.83m
- 🇨🇳 Qianqian Dai – 64.38m
- 🇯🇵 Haruka Kitaguchi – 64.16m
- 🇨🇳 Huihui Liu – 63.76m
- 🇨🇳 Lingdan Su – 62.33m
- 🇯🇵 Momone Ueda – 60.66m
- 🇯🇵 Sayuka Kurata – 60.57m
- 🇯🇵 Sae Takemoto – 60.51m
- 🇨🇳 Qiozhen Ma – 60.40m
- 🇨🇳 Lijuan Ge – 59.23m
Kitaguchi Holds Her Ground
World Champion Haruka Kitaguchi of Japan remains one of the key challengers to Chinese dominance, with her season-best of 64.16m placing her third. However, with four Chinese throwers ahead of 63m already this year, the battle for continental gold will be fiercely contested.
India’s Absence
India, led by seasoned campaigner Annu Rani, is notably absent from the current top-10. While Rani has previously medalled at the continental level and is the reigning national champion, she has yet to breach the 60m mark in 2025. With the Asian Athletics Championships around the corner, all eyes will be on whether India can regain footing in this event.
Men’s Javelin: Neeraj Chopra in a League of His Own
India’s Olympic and World Champion Neeraj Chopra sits comfortably at the top of the Asian rankings, following his massive throw of 90.23m, registered earlier this season. It’s the kind of performance that not only dominates the continent but puts him among the world’s best yet again.
Top 10 – Men’s Javelin (as of May 24, 2025):
- 🇮🇳 Neeraj Chopra – 90.23m
- 🇱🇰 Sumedha Ranasinghe – 85.78m
- 🇱🇰 Rumesh Tharanga – 85.41m
- 🇮🇳 Sachin Yadav – 84.39m
- 🇯🇵 Yuma Sakiyama – 82.96m
- 🇯🇵 Rin Suzuki – 81.23m
- 🇮🇳 Yashvir Singh – 80.85m
- 🇯🇵 Kenji Ogura – 80.69m
- 🇨🇳 Haoran Hu – 80.66m
- 🇯🇵 Gaku Naganuma – 80.58m
India’s Rising Depth
While Neeraj leads the charts, India’s depth is equally impressive. Sachin Yadav (84.39m) and Yashvir Singh (80.85m) have emerged as serious contenders, hinting at a strong succession plan behind the Olympic champion.
This is the first time in recent years that three Indian throwers feature in the continental top-10 simultaneously, giving India a realistic chance at multiple medals at the Asian Championships in Gumi.
Sri Lanka Surging
Sri Lanka has quietly built one of the most potent duos in Asian javelin. Both Sumedha Ranasinghe and Rumesh Tharanga have breached 85m this year—an exceptional mark that puts them firmly in contention for podium finishes at upcoming meets.
Outlook for the Season
With the Asian Athletics Championships scheduled from May 27 to 31 in Gumi, Republic of Korea, the current rankings offer a strong indication of the form book. While India enters the men’s field as a favourite, its women’s contingent faces an uphill task against the formidable Chinese and Japanese squads.
Neeraj Chopra remains the face of Asian javelin, but the emergence of Yadav and Singh adds a new layer of strength to India’s campaign. The challenge now lies in replicating that success in the women’s field, where Annu Rani and others must breach the 60m barrier to stay competitive.
Asia’s javelin scene is more competitive than ever. China and Japan are asserting themselves in the women’s division, while India and Sri Lanka are redefining the narrative in the men’s field. As the season progresses, rankings will shift—but as of now, the names at the top are delivering world-class performances that promise fireworks in the months ahead.
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