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India star Neeraj Chopra is set to qualify for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest.
Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the Diamond League Finals. (AFP Photo)
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is closing in on a place at the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, with the Indian javelin star currently positioned inside the qualification bracket. Chopra’s road to the season-ending showpiece has been complicated by his limited competition schedule.
The 28-year-old returned to action only at the Doha Diamond League after spending months recovering from a lower-back injury that had kept him out since September 2025.
Despite making a late start to the season, Chopra remains firmly in contention for the new global championship. Eight athletes will earn places in the men’s javelin competition, and Chopra is currently seventh in the qualification standings.
Fellow Indian Sachin Yadav is also in the mix at eighth, although the final list of eligible competitors will be confirmed on September 6.
The qualification picture includes several leading names ahead of Chopra, including Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, American Curtis Thompson and Germany’s Julian Weber.
Reigning Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott have automatic places, leaving the remaining berths to be determined through the qualification system. Six athletes will qualify through world rankings based on performances during the September 2, 2025 to September 1, 2026 qualification period, while the Diamond League Final winner will also earn a place.
Chopra’s immediate focus, however, will be the Diamond League finale in Brussels on September 4 and 5. He qualified by finishing sixth spot for the finale.
The Ultimate Championships, scheduled for September 11-13 in Budapest, represent a new addition to the athletics calendar. The biennial event is designed to bring together Olympic champions, world champions, Diamond League winners and the leading athletes from the global rankings in a season-ending battle for supremacy.
With a total prize purse of $10 million, the championship is also set to offer one of the richest rewards in athletics, with each individual gold medallist receiving $150,000.
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Ask News18Neeraj Chopra is on course to qualify for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest. He is currently positioned within the qualification bracket and is at the seventh spot among the eight throwers who will compete in the men’s javelin event.
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Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
August 28, 2026, 14:46 IST
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