Two young Indian athletes, Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh, are set to make their World Athletics Championships debut in Tokyo on September 13, joining two-time Olympic medallist and defending World Champion Neeraj Chopra.
Adding to the excitement, 24-year-old Rohit Yadav could also be in contention. The updated World Athletics entry list released on August 27 places him at rank 37, just outside the 36-man cut-off. If any qualified thrower withdraws, Yadav would become the fourth Indian javelin thrower on the Tokyo flight.
Neeraj Chopra is the defending champion while Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh made the cut through the world ranking quota system.
The trio’s presence signals not just India’s growing dominance in javelin, but also the sport’s transformation into a national passion since Chopra’s historic gold at the Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021). That victory was India’s first-ever Olympic medal in athletics — a watershed moment that ignited a javelin revolution across the country.
Chopra’s Legacy: Breaking Barriers and Building Belief
Chopra has become the face of Indian athletics, consistently delivering on the global stage. With back-to-back Olympic medals and a national record of 90.23m set at the Doha Diamond League, his success has inspired a new generation to dream beyond boundaries.
India is now being acknowledged as the epicentre of javelin by the global track and field community. More than half-a-dozen Indian throwers in their early 20s are already crossing the 80m mark.
Rajender, who once held the Indian record with 82.23m in 2015, witnessed his mark eclipsed by Chopra’s 86.48m at the 2016 World U20 Championships. Since then, Chopra has consistently raised the bar, proving that Indian javelin throwers can challenge the world’s best.
Domestic Depth: Fierce competition at Home
The depth in Indian javelin was on full display at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where Kishore Kumar Jena (84.77m, 5th place) and DP Manu (84.14m, 6th place) joined Chopra in the top six. Later that year, Jena came within touching distance of Chopra, securing silver at the Asian Games with an impressive 87.58m.
Though Jena and Manu will miss the 2025 Tokyo Worlds, their absence has opened the door for fresh talent. Yadav and Singh, both tipped as future stars, will shoulder the responsibility of extending India’s medal hunt alongside Chopra.
Young Guns Ready for the Big Stage
At 25, Sachin Yadav is already being talked about as Chopra’s natural successor. He won silver at the 2025 Gumi Asian Championships with an 85.16m throw — narrowly missing the automatic qualification mark of 85.50m.
He has thrown close to 90m in training. Sachin is tall, strong, and just 25. He will take time to mature, but his potential is undeniable.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Shivam Lohakare, just 20, is fast emerging as another talent to watch. Twice this year he has crossed the 80m mark, most recently at the Continental Tour in Bhubaneswar, where he finished second with 80.73m.
Why India Clicks in Javelin
So, what explains India’s sudden surge in one of track and field’s most technical events?
There’s no formal study, but Indians are genetically strong for javelin. Throwing comes naturally — perhaps even tracing back to prehistoric spear-hunting traditions still alive in tribal belts.
Chief national coach Radhakrishnan Nair adds that success lies in training balance: “Javelin demands speed, strength and flexibility. Wrong training can be detrimental for young throwers, so building the right system is crucial.”
National Javelin Day and Grassroots Boom
Since Chopra’s Olympic gold, India has gone all-in on cultivating javelin talent. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) declared August 7 — the date of Chopra’s triumph — as National Javelin Day. State associations are mandated to host competitions on that day, keeping the momentum alive across the grassroots.
The impact has been electric. At the recently held Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, more than 14,000 fans filled the stands for a one-day javelin event — a rare sight in Indian athletics.
A future Full of Promise
With Chopra leading from the front and youngsters like Yadav, Singh, Manu, Jena, and Lohakare pushing the boundaries, India’s javelin pipeline looks stronger than ever.
There is a good bunch of throwers who can excel globally. All we need to do is keep them healthy and disciplined.
From Tokyo 2021 to Tokyo 2025, the circle is complete. The world is watching — and India’s spear-throwers are ready to strike again.
