Complete lineup of Indian qualifiers for the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo.

Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world champion, will spearhead India’s 19-member squad at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month, where sprinter Animesh Kujur makes history as the first Indian in his category to qualify.

Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world champion, will lead India’s 19-member team at the World Athletics Championships 2025, scheduled in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the squad, which includes 13 male and six female athletes, blending experienced names with rising stars.

Neeraj Chopra, India’s top medal contender in the men’s javelin throw, defended his world title in Budapest in 2023. Now 26, he heads into the 2025 championships as the defending champion with a wild card, even though he had already cleared the 85.50m qualification mark earlier this season. He will compete alongside Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh, who earned their spots through strong performances in the world rankings.

The standout breakthrough comes from Odisha’s Animesh Kujur. His participation marks a defining moment for Indian sprinting on the global stage.

Avinash Sable, Parul Chaudhary, Gulveer Singh, and Praveen Chitravel all earned direct qualification for the World Championships by hitting the entry standards. However, Sable’s injury and subsequent withdrawal is a notable loss for the Indian contingent.

Thirteen more Indian athletes qualified for the World Championships through world rankings. Among them is long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who missed the 2024 Olympics due to knee surgery but has made a strong comeback, winning five events since July—including a gold at the Continental Tour meet in Bhubaneswar. Although he didn’t meet the automatic standard of 8.27m, his season-best jump of 8.13m earned him a spot via rankings. Javelin thrower Annu Rani also makes her return, having rediscovered form with a 62.59m throw in Poland—her best performance in over two years.

Athletes such as Ankita Dhyani in the 3000m steeplechase, Pooja in the 1500m, and race walker Priyanka Goswami, set to compete in the women’s 35km, also make up the team. India continues to excel in race walking with Akshdeep Singh and Servin Sebastian qualifying for the men’s 20km and Ram Baboo for the men’s 35km. High jumper Sarvesh Kushare and triple jumper Abdulla Aboobacker add valuable strength to India’s field event lineup.

The squad has been reduced by two withdrawals—Avinash Sable and heptathlete Nandini Agasara, who qualified as the Asian champion but had to pull out due to injury. This brings the number of active participants down to 17. The Athletics Federation of India’s selection committee is scheduled to meet this week to make final decisions on fitness and potential late additions. Rohit Yadav remains a contender for a javelin spot if any higher-ranked athletes withdraw.

Indian athletes qualified for the World Athletics Championships via wild card

Neeraj Chopra – Men’s Javelin Throw (Holder of the Championship Title)

By achieving the qualifying mark

• In the men’s triple jump, Praveen Chithravel has secured qualification.
• Gulveer Singh has made it to the men’s 5000m lineup.
• Avinash Sable booked his place in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
• Parul Chaudhary qualified to represent India in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

Through global rankings

• Animesh Kujur has qualified for the men’s 200m event.
• Annu Rani will represent India in the women’s javelin throw.
• Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh have both earned spots in the men’s javelin throw.
• Ankita Dhyani will compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
• Sreeshankar Murali has made it to the men’s long jump event.
• Abdulla Aboobacker will participate in the men’s triple jump.
• Sarvesh Kushare secured qualification in the men’s high jump.
• Nandini Agasara qualified for the heptathlon.
• Pooja is set to compete in the women’s 1500m race.
• Servin Sebastian and Akshdeep Singh have earned entries in the men’s 20km race walk.
• Ram Baboo will represent India in the men’s 35km race walk.
• Priyanka Goswami is part of the lineup for the women’s 35km race walk.