The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced a 19-member squad on Sunday for the upcoming World Athletics Championships 2025 to be held in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. Fourteen male athletes and five female athletes will represent the country in 15 disciplines.
The Indian campaign will be spearheaded by reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra, who made the cut through the wild card entry in men’s javelin throw.
From the 19-member squad, three Indians made the cut through entry standards. Gulveer Singh in 5000m, Praveen Chitravel in triple jump and Parul Chaudhary in the 3000m steeplechase. The others qualified through ranking points, while some who were next in line by ranking received invitations.
In the men’s javelin, alongside Neeraj, three other throwers Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh and Rohit Yadav qualified and for the first time ever, four javelin throwers will represent India at the World Championships.
Long distance runner Gulveer will compete in both the 5000m and 10,000m in men’s while middle distance runner Pooja Olla in the 800m and 1500m are the only two athletes competing in multiple disciplines.
Long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who made an impressive comeback, will be seen taking a leap as he qualified through ranking points, and Tejas Shirse, whose 2025 season was marked by injuries and struggles, got the opportunity through an invitation.
Two Indians who made the direct cut, Avinash Sable in 3000m steeplechase and Nandini Agaskara in heptathlon, will miss due to injuries. Sable tore his ACL while crossing the water pit at the Monaco Diamond League, while Nandini has opted out citing an elbow injury.
Full squad for the World Athletics Championship.
Men’s:
• Neeraj Chopra – Javelin throw
• Gulveer Singh – 5000m, 10,000m
• Praveen – Triple Jump
• Abdulla Aboobacker – Triple Jump
• Sarvesh Kushare – High Jump
• Animesh Kujur – 200m
• Sachin Yadav – Javelin throw
• Yash Vir Singh – Javelin throw
• Murali Sreeshankar – Long Jump
• Servin Sebastian – 20km
• Ram Baboo – 35km race walk
• Sandeep – 35km race walk
• Rohit Yadav – Javelin throw
• Tejas Shirse – 110m Hurdles
Women’s:
• Parul – 3000m Steeplechase
• Annu Rani – Javelin throw
• Priyanka – 35km race walk
• Ankita Dhyani – 3000m steeplechase
• Pooja – 1500m ,800m