Fri, September 18, 2026
Tokyo (Web Desk): Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has moved into the final of the Men’s Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo.
On Wednesday, he confirmed his place with a strong third attempt of 85.28 metres, improving on earlier efforts of 76.99m and 74.17m, and will now battle for medals on Thursday.
In his qualification group, Anderson Peters advanced with 85.96m, while Julius Yego registered a powerful 89.53m. Curtis Thompson, who opened with 77.97m, managed to push through after delivering an 84.72m throw later in the round.
India’s star Neeraj Chopra, currently world number two, secured his passage with ease, crossing the automatic mark of 84.50m on his very first attempt at 84.85m inside the Tokyo National Stadium.
He later added an 86.56m effort, showing solid form as he builds on the momentum of his Olympic triumph in Paris 2024, where he claimed gold with a record 92.97m throw. Chopra, who owns a personal best of 90.23m — also India’s national record — remains among the favourites.
Top-ranked Julian Weber of Germany also booked his place after overcoming a weak start to post 87.21m, while Poland’s Dawid Wegner achieved a personal best of 85.67m to qualify.
India’s Sachin Yadav fell just short of direct qualification with 83.67m, finishing sixth in Group A and now depending on Group B results.
Other notable performers still in contention include Olympic medallists Jakub Vadlejch, who threw 84.11m, and Keshorn Walcott with 83.93m.
Out of 37 athletes in the field, only 12 move forward — either by clearing the qualifying standard or by ranking among the best marks outside it.
The final could revive the celebrated rivalry between Nadeem and Chopra. At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Chopra took gold with 88.17m and Nadeem secured silver at 87.82m. In Paris a year later, the positions were reversed, with Nadeem crowned Olympic champion and Chopra settling for silver.
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