Daijiworld Media Network - Budapest

Budapest, Sep 17: India’s javelin sensation Neeraj Chopra will kick off his World Championship title defence with the qualification round on Wednesday, facing a stellar lineup that includes Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan and Diamond League champion Julian Weber of Germany.

Neeraj, who had won the gold at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, aims to become only the third male javelin thrower in history to successfully defend the world title. Czech legend Jan Zelezny (1993, 1995), now Neeraj’s coach, and Grenada’s Anderson Peters (2019, 2022) are the only other athletes to have achieved back-to-back world championship golds in men’s javelin.

The 2025 edition also sets the stage for a potential clash between Neeraj and Arshad Nadeem, a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics where Nadeem had claimed silver. However, the two rivals will not meet in Wednesday’s qualifiers, as they have been placed in separate groups. The much-anticipated showdown is expected in the final round on Thursday, September 18.

Fans will keenly watch whether Neeraj can continue his dominant run and add another historic chapter to his illustrious career.