World Athletics Championships 2023: Three Indian players enter javelin throw final for the first time in history

India's Olympic medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday qualified for the final round of men's javelin throw event at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. Apart from Chopra, two other Indian javelin throwers - DP Manu and Kishore Kumar Jena - also made it to the championship finals. This is the first time in the history of World Athletics Championships that 3 Indians have qualified for the men's javelin final.

Also Read: World Athletics Championships 2023: Neeraj Chopra enters final with a throw of 88.77m; qualifies for the Paris 2024

Meanwhile, Asian Athletics Championships silver medalist, DP Manu finished sixth with a best throw of 81.31m. While Kishore Jena, who was the lone Indian in the Qualification Group B, finished ninth with a throw of 80.55m. Playing his first competition outside Asia, Kishore Kumar Jena was in Group B of qualification with the likes of Jakub Vadljech and Arshad Nadeem. Jena started with a throw of 80.55m. It was good enough for him to secure his berth in the final.

🚀FOR THE FIRST TIME ALL 3 INDIAN ATHLETES REACHED THE FINAL OF ANY EVENT AT THE WORLD ATHLETICS CH'SHIPS

D. P. Manu (81.31m, #6) & Kishore Jena (80.55m, #9) have joined Neeraj Chopra in the Final of the Men's Javelin Throw at the World Athletics Championships. pic.twitter.com/68FZqoC0ae

— SPORTS ARENA🇮🇳 (@SportsArena1234) August 25, 2023

Now all the three Indian players will take part in the final round to be held on Sunday, August 27. This is the first instance when three Indian athletes will be competing for the podium in that event. In the 2022 edition, Rohit Yadav and Neeraj Chopra competed in the final of the Javelin throw. Neeraj won the silver medal and Rohit finished 10th overall in that event.

4 of the 12 men in the final of the men's javelin event in World Athletics Championships 2023 are from India and Pakistan. Commonwealth Games Gold medalist Arshad Nadeem made a fine recovery from injury setbacks. He became only one of the three men to achieve the automatic qualification spots.

Also Read: World Athletics Championships 2023: Neeraj Chopra urges the MEA to fix visa issues of javelin thrower Kishore Jena

Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem finished 2nd with a fine throw of 86.79m in his final attempt. While Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch finished 3rd in the qualification with a best attempt of 83.50m.