Introduction: A Tale of Two Asian Championships as India decides to skip Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo
The Asian athletics calendar in 2025 has been unusually crowded, with two distinct events creating both opportunities and dilemmas for national federations. First came the 26th Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea (May 27–31), a full-scale continental showcase of track and field. Three months later arrives the more specialized Asian Throwing Championships in Mokpo, scheduled for August 21–22, focusing exclusively on throws.
While China, Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and other nations are fielding squads for Mokpo albeit without some of their biggest names India has opted out entirely. This absence is striking, especially given the country’s growing stature in javelin throw and shot put. Yet a closer look reveals India’s decision was less about neglect, and more about timing, strategy, and athlete management.
India’s Strong Showing at Gumi
India did not ignore continental athletics this season. In fact, at the Gumi Championships in May, the nation produced one of its best performances in history finishing second on the medal table with 24 medals (8 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze), behind only China.
In the throws:
- Sachin Yadav threw a personal best of 85.16m to claim silver in men’s javelin, achieving the World Championships standard (85.50m).
- Yashvir Singh also registered a personal best (82.57m), finishing fifth.
- Annu Rani contested the women’s javelin finals.
Notably, Neeraj Chopra, the reigning Olympic and World Champion, skipped Gumi altogether. Having already thrown 90.23m earlier in the season in Doha, well beyond the World Athletics Championships qualifying mark, his absence was a conscious decision to rest and prepare for the bigger stage in Tokyo this September. Thus, India’s javelin program left Gumi with silverware, two personal bests, and confirmed qualification for its biggest star making a return to Mokpo less critical.
Why India Skipped Mokpo
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) calendar for 2025 reveals the main reason: a direct clash with the 64th National Inter State Senior Athletics Championships, held in Chennai from August 20–24.
For India’s athletics ecosystem, this domestic championship is non-negotiable:
- It is mandatory for athletes eyeing national team selection.
- It provides domestic rankings and benchmarks for coaches.
- It helps assess the depth of talent across states.
Choosing Mokpo over Chennai would have undermined India’s own national system. Moreover, with Chopra already qualified, and Yadav meeting the standard at Gumi, India had less incentive to divert resources to Mokpo. Athlete load management avoiding burnout in a packed season was another factor. With the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (Sept 13–21) looming, AFI clearly prioritized rest, recovery, and domestic competition over an additional overseas trip.
How Other Nations Are Approaching Mokpo
China
China dominated Gumi with 32 medals (19 gold). In throws, they secured multiple golds: Abuduaini Tuergong in men’s discus, Ji Li in women’s hammer, and Su Lingdan in women’s javelin. For Mokpo, they are expected to send depth athletes rather than frontline stars like Feng Bin or Song Jiayuan, both of whom are focused on Tokyo.
Japan
Japan finished third in Gumi with 28 medals. Yuta Sakiyama (83.75m PB, bronze) showed depth in men’s javelin. However, their ace — Kitaguchi Haruka, reigning world and Olympic champion in women’s javelin is skipping due to elbow inflammation, preserving herself for Tokyo. Like India, Japan is balancing between depth competitions and athlete welfare.
South Korea
As host of both Gumi and Mokpo, Korea is ensuring visibility. Their men’s javelin record-holder Nam Tae-poong made Gumi’s final, and their broader throws squad will likely benefit from home advantage.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka has the clearest strategy. They have officially entered Rumesh Tharanga (83.27m at Gumi) and Dilhani Lekamge in javelin. While Rumesh achived the mark at the recently held WACT Bronze meet in Bhubaneshwar Lekamge will be hoping to go closer. The entry standards are steep (Men: 85.50m, Women: 64.00m). It offers a golden opportunity for Sri Lankans to punch their Tokyo tickets.
Athlete Management and the Bigger Picture
The absence of Neeraj Chopra at Gumi, Kitaguchi Haruka’s withdrawal from Japan’s nationals, and India’s no-show at Mokpo all highlight a broader truth: top athletes don’t need to compete everywhere. The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo is the pinnacle, and the qualification window closes August 24 just two days after Mokpo. For athletes already qualified or safely ranked, competing in Mokpo could pose unnecessary risk. For others, like Sri Lanka’s Lekamge, it’s a lifeline.
This duality underscores why smaller “area championships” exist: they aren’t about prestige, but about pathways to qualification. For India, with Chopra already secured and others meeting standards, the event carried limited value. For Sri Lanka, it could be everything. India’s absence from the Asian Throwing Championships 2025 in Mokpo is not an oversight but a deliberate, calculated choice. With domestic nationals clashing on dates, and top athletes either qualified or focused on recovery, AFI has put faith in its internal calendar and longer-term goals.
Meanwhile, countries like Sri Lanka see Mokpo as a qualification lifeline, while China, Japan, and Korea treat it as a depth-testing exercise ahead of Tokyo. In the end, the Mokpo meet though smaller and less publicized plays a critical role in the athletics qualification ecosystem. It is a reminder that every federation must balance prestige, preparation, and pragmatism. For India, the message is clear: the focus is firmly on Tokyo and beyond.
