India will field a 19-member contingent at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (September 13–21), headlined by Olympic champion and defending world champion Neeraj Chopra.
The squad, announced by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), features a blend of established names and promising debutants, reflecting both continuity and diversification in Indian athletics. At the centre of India’s campaign is Neeraj Chopra, the two-time Olympic medallist who has redefined the country’s presence in global track and field. Having won silver at Oregon 2022 and gold at Budapest 2023, Chopra arrives in Tokyo as the reigning world champion with a wild card entry.
His season-best and national record of 90.23m makes him the undisputed favourite once again, though the field is expected to be highly competitive with throwers from Europe and the Americas in top form.
Joining him in the men’s javelin are Sachin Yadav (85.16m), Yashvir Singh (82.57m), and Rohit Yadav (83.65m) all first-time entrants via the world ranking quota. The rare sight of four Indian men in a single event underscores the country’s remarkable depth in javelin, a discipline long dominated by just a handful of global powerhouses. In the women’s javelin, Annu Rani, the Asian Games champion, has qualified through rankings and will look to add consistency to her record of international finals appearances.
A Team of 19 Athletes from India for the World Athletics Championships
The final team includes 14 men and 5 women. Three athletes Avinash Sable (3000m steeplechase), Akshdeep Singh (20km race walk), and Nandini Agasara (heptathlon) were originally in contention but were ruled out due to injuries. AFI president and World Athletics vice-president Adille Sumariwalla confirmed their withdrawals, stressing that fitness was prioritised to avoid long-term risks.
The selected team is as follows:
Men:
- Sprints: Animesh Kujur (200m)
- Middle/long distance: Gulveer Singh (5000m/10,000m)
- Hurdles: Tejas Shirse (110m hurdles)
- High jump: Sarvesh Anil Kushare
- Long jump: Sreeshankar
- Triple jump: Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker
- Javelin: Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, Rohit Yadav
- Race walk: Servin Sebastian (20km), Ram Baboo (35km), Sandeep Kumar (35km)
Women:
- Middle distance: Pooja (800m/1500m)
- Steeplechase: Parul Chaudhary, Ankita
- Javelin: Annu Rani
- Race walk: Priyanka (35km)
One of the most significant entries is Animesh Kujur, who becomes the first Indian male sprinter to qualify for the 200m at the World Championships. His personal best of 20.32s has placed him among Asia’s top sprinters this year, signaling a new frontier for Indian athletics. Sprinting, traditionally a weak spot for India at the world stage, now has representation—a symbolic breakthrough for the program’s diversification.
Distance running also sees a historic highlight with Gulveer Singh, who has broken into the elite bracket by clocking 12:59.77 in the 5000m and 27:00.22 in the 10,000m, both national records. His qualification from the USA training base shows India’s growing reliance on international high-performance centers.
Of the 19-member team, more than half will be making their World Championships debut, including Kujur, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, Servin Sebastian, Ankita, Pooja, Rohit Yadav, and Tejas Shirse. This injection of fresh blood contrasts with established names such as Chopra, Murali Sreeshankar, Annu Rani, and Parul Chaudhary, who bring vital experience from previous editions. This balance reflects AFI’s evolving strategy: combining medal contenders with developmental athletes who gain invaluable exposure.
The federation has come a long way since the early 2000s, when India’s contingent often numbered fewer than 10.
At Budapest in 2023, the country fielded its largest-ever team of 28 athletes, capped by Chopra’s gold medal.
Training and Preparation
The team will assemble in Tokyo from September 4–9 for an acclimatization camp, led by chief national coach Radhakrishnan Nair. The camp is designed to help athletes adapt to Tokyo’s late-summer humidity, which will be a challenge for endurance events. Distance runner Gulveer Singh will fly in from the USA on September 4, while Chopra is scheduled to join the squad on September 5.
Several athletes, including triple jumpers Praveen Chithravel and Abdulla Aboobacker, are training at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) in Bellary, while others like Kujur and Ankita have been preparing under foreign coaches in Europe and the USA. This international exposure, backed by institutional support from the Indian Army and Railways, reflects the increasing professionalization of Indian athletics .
Key Medal Prospects
- Neeraj Chopra (javelin throw): The biggest hope, having consistently thrown above 88m this season.
- Sreeshankar (long jump): Returning from injury, his 8.41m PB keeps him in the world’s top-10.
- Triple jumpers (Chithravel & Aboobacker): Both with 17m-plus jumps, capable of sneaking into finals.
- Gulveer Singh (5000m/10,000m): The first Indian under 13 minutes in the 5000m, he will aim for a top-8 finish.
- Parul Chaudhary (steeplechase): Asian Games champion with a PB of 9:12.46, she has experience in global finals.
The Tokyo contingent showcases a shift in Indian athletics strategy. Traditionally reliant on javelin, long jump, and race walks, India is now broadening its competitive base into sprints, hurdles, and middle-distance races. The inclusion of debutants signals long-term planning, with an eye on Los Angeles 2028. Moreover, the emphasis on season-best performances is striking. Many athletes enter Tokyo having set personal or season-best marks in 2025, indicating peak form:
- Chopra: 90.23m (PB/SB)
- Gulveer Singh: National records in both events
- Praveen Chithravel: 17.37m (equals NR)
- Annu Rani: 62.59m SB, close to her 63.82m PB
- Parul Chaudhary: 9:12.46 SB, an Asian lead
Challenges Ahead
Despite optimism, the road to medals remains tough. Global athletics is fiercely competitive, and India’s depth still lags behind traditional powerhouses. In events like men’s long jump or women’s javelin, athletes will need to surpass their personal bests to make the finals. Injuries to proven names like Avinash Sable are a reminder of the fragility of elite sport. India’s rise at the World Championships has been gradual. The country won its first medal in 2003, when Anju Bobby George claimed bronze in the women’s long jump. For nearly two decades, medals were elusive until Chopra broke through with silver in 2022 and gold in 2023.
His success has catalyzed broader growth: more athletes qualifying, more institutional investment, and greater international exposure.
The 2025 edition continues this trajectory. From just four athletes in 2001 to 28 in 2023, and now 19 carefully chosen contenders in 2025, India has moved from fringe participation to serious contention.
The 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships represents another milestone in India’s athletics journey. With Chopra at the forefront, but equally with new faces in sprints, hurdles, and distance events, the team reflects both present excellence and future promise. While expectations of medals will rest heavily on Chopra, Sreeshankar, and Parul, the broader goal is to solidify India’s status as an emerging multi-event contender.
For the athletes, Tokyo is not just about chasing medals it is about experience, belief, and proving that India’s athletics revolution is here to stay.
