Neeraj eyes glory, Arshad fights on: Javelin final set for Tokyo thriller

A Tale of First and Last: Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem Seal Spots in Javelin Final.

It was a story of the first and the last throw in the men’s javelin qualification on September 17. Defending world champion Neeraj Chopra and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem both booked their places in the final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — but the paths they took could not have been more different.

Twelve of 37 athletes advanced to the final. Seven — Neeraj, Nadeem, Anderson Peters, Julian Weber, Julius Yego, Dawid Wegner and Curtis Thompson — crossed the automatic qualification mark of 84.50m. The remaining five squeezed through nervy, tense throws in the Tokyo heat.

One and Done: Neeraj Chopra

Neeraj, who has struggled with consistency this season, needed just one attempt. His 84.85m opener sealed qualification. Calm and composed, he walked off immediately, explaining later that his aim was to conserve energy for Thursday’s 3:30 pm IST final.

Though not fully satisfied with the distance, Neeraj’s effort was unmatched in the first round. Even Diamond League champion Julian Weber managed only 82.29m at first. Neeraj’s compatriot Sachin Yadav impressed with 83.67m, but a career-best 85.67m from Poland’s Dawid Wegner pushed him to the edge of qualification.

The Last-Throw Drama: Arshad Nadeem

If Neeraj was effortless, Arshad was anything but. His first two attempts — 76.99m and 74.17m — were far below par, and the Olympic champion looked set for an early exit. But on his final throw, Arshad found his rhythm, producing 85.28m to sneak into the final and remind everyone he is still a force.

Surprise Sparks

Kenya’s veteran Julius Yego, at 36, rolled back the years with an 85m throw — his first this season. Anderson Peters, returning from a serious accident, unleashed the day’s biggest throw at 89.53m. Meanwhile, Weber rediscovered form with a massive 87.21m, showing why he leads the Diamond League.

Wide-Open Final

The finalists now include:

Anderson Peters: Longest throw of qualification (89.53m).

Julian Weber: In-form German, Diamond League champ.

Julius Yego: The veteran with one last roar.

Arshad Nadeem: Rusty, but dangerous.

Neeraj Chopra: Defending champ, still searching for peak form.

Dawid Wegner: The Polish surprise package.

For the first time in years, there is no clear favourite. It’s not just Neeraj vs Arshad, nor Neeraj vs Weber. This could be the most unpredictable javelin showdown in recent memory.

Do not miss the men’s javelin final on Thursday, September 18, at 3:30 pm IST in Tokyo.