Indian Athletics Awards 2026: Neeraj Chopra clinches 'Best Male Athlete of 2025'; check list

(The list will be updated)

India’s star javelin thrower saw his extraordinary run of consistency come to an end at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this year, where he finished 8th in the final with a best effort of 84.03m. It marked the first time in 26 consecutive competitions that he failed to finish in the top two, ending one of the most dominant streaks in modern athletics. The result also brought an end to his remarkable 33-event podium streak, which had started at the 2018 All India Inter-Services Championships and stood as one of the longest consistent runs in global track and field.

Despite the setback, his 2025 season remained highly competitive, highlighted by several strong performances across international events. He began the year with a win at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, before securing second place at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he made history by breaching the 90-metre mark for the first time with a throw of 90.23m. The effort not only set a new national record but also made him only the 25th male javelin thrower in history to cross the milestone.

He later claimed victory at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru in July, further strengthening his position as the leading figure in Indian athletics. His campaign also included a runner-up finish at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland, followed by back-to-back wins at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike with throws of 88.16m and 85.29m respectively.

In August, he continued his strong form with a second-place finish at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, recording 85.01m and extending his streak of top-two finishes right up until the World Championships in Tokyo.