The World Athletics Championships 2025 are scheduled to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to 21. This marks the 20th edition of the Championships and the third time the event has been held in Japan. The world's top athletes will compete in the Japan National Stadium, which was rebuilt for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
For fans in India eager to follow the action, live streaming will be available on JioHotstar. The Championships will also be telecast live on Star Sports Select 1, Star Sports Select 1 HD, Star Sports Select 2 and Star Sports Select 2 HD TV channels in India.
India is sending a strong contingent of 19 athletes to the World Athletics Championships 2025. The team comprises 14 men and five women, who will compete across 15 events. Neeraj Chopra, the defending world champion in the javelin throw, will spearhead the Indian challenge. He will be looking to defend his title, making him the first-ever defending world champion from India.
A significant milestone for India is the participation of four athletes in the men's javelin throw: Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, and Rohit Yadav. This is the first time that India will field four athletes in a single event at the World Championships.
Another historic moment will be the participation of Animesh Kujur in the men's 200m. Kujur is the first Indian sprinter to qualify for this event at the World Championships. He broke the national records in both the 100m and 200m earlier this year.
Other notable Indian athletes to watch include Murali Sreeshankar in the men's long jump. Sreeshankar has been in impressive form since returning from injury. Annu Rani, the Asian Games women's javelin champion, will also be aiming for a good performance. Gulveer Singh will compete in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m, and Pooja will participate in the women's 800m and 1500m. The team also includes Parul Chaudhary and Ankita Dhyani in the women's 3000m steeplechase, Tejas Shirse in the men's 110m hurdles, and race walkers Servin Sebastian, Ram Baboo, Sandeep Kumar and Priyanka Goswami.
Indian athletes have won only three medals at the World Athletics Championships so far. Anju Bobby George won a bronze in the long jump at Paris 2003, Neeraj Chopra won a silver in the javelin at Oregon 2022, and a gold at Budapest.
The World Athletics Championships 2025 will feature over 2,000 athletes from around 200 nations competing in 49 events. A total prize pool exceeding $13 million will be awarded, with bonuses of $155,000 for each world record broken.
