Neeraj Chopra Advances to Javelin Final in Tokyo, Citing 'Lucky' Venue and Confident Mindset

For Neeraj Chopra, it was a case of one and done. The defending champion needed just a single throw, his very first attempt of 84.85m, to secure automatic qualification for the javelin final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Wednesday, September 17.

“I’m feeling good. Distance-wise it wasn’t the best, but here distance doesn’t matter,” Chopra said after sealing his spot.

“The important thing is I crossed the automatic qualifying mark on the very first throw. This is also the first time for me that the final is the very next day, so I wanted to finish quickly, recover well, and be fresh for tomorrow.”

The 27-year-old kept his preparations light in the humid Tokyo conditions. He warmed up with a medicine ball, did minimal drills, and made only three throws in total. “The weather here is hot, so the body warms up quickly. In cooler European conditions, I would have needed 5–6 throws, but today less was better to save energy,” he explained.

Chopra will now face a familiar rival in Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem, who advanced after surviving a scare. Nadeem needed all three throws in Group B before qualifying with 85.28m. The final sets up their first meeting since the Paris 2024 Olympics, where Nadeem’s 92.97m secured gold ahead of Chopra’s 89.45m.

Despite not being at his most consistent this season, Doha remains his only 90m-plus mark, Chopra remains confident. “Expectations are always there, especially what I expect from myself. This season I haven’t felt at my best apart from that Doha throw. Still, I believe I can throw well tomorrow. The World Championships is a big platform, and I generally perform well in pressure situations.”

Tokyo holds special significance for Chopra, who won India’s historic Olympic gold in the same stadium in 2021. “Coming back here definitely feels special. I believe it’s a lucky ground for me, and I hope tomorrow will also be good,” he said.

The Indian contingent has reason to be proud. Sachin Yadav also reached the final with an 83.67m effort, while two others — Rohit Yadav and Yashvir Singh — bowed out early. “It’s a big thing to have more Indians in the field. It shows how much our team is growing,” Chopra said.

With recovery now his priority, Chopra’s eyes are fixed firmly on Thursday’s final — a chance to defend his crown and perhaps rewrite the script against his Pakistani rival.