Until a few years ago, the name Neeraj Chopra stood alone in India’s javelin story. He was the golden boy of Indian athletics—the Olympic champion, the world’s best, and the reason the javelin throw began appearing on sports pages dominated by cricket. But as of 2025, a quiet revolution is underway. India is no longer putting all its hopes on one arm. A growing team of strong, talented throwers is emerging, turning javelin into a serious national sport with global ambition.
The recent performances from Indian throwers have proven that Chopra is not an isolated success. At the 2023 World Championships, India fielded not just Neeraj but also Kishore Jena and DP Manu. Jena finished fifth with a throw of 84.77m and Manu sixth with 84.14m—astonishing results for athletes who, until a few seasons ago, were still finding their feet. India had three throwers inside the top six in the world, a feat no one would have imagined even five years ago.
The 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou further cemented India’s regional supremacy. Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena delivered a gold-silver punch, while Manu’s absence due to a doping-related suspension was felt deeply. Yet even with setbacks, India showed depth and resilience. In a sport that often sees national programs hinge on one superstar, India is building a bench.
However, the journey hasn’t been without hurdles. Manu DP’s suspension has dealt a blow not just to his career but also to the momentum of Indian javelin. Kishore Jena, too, is recovering from an injury post the Asian Games, creating temporary voids. Still, new faces like Sachin Yadav—who topped the Federation Cup with a personal best of 84.39m—are ensuring that the baton (or javelin) is not dropped. Seven athletes surpassed the 75.36m qualifying mark for Asian competitions in the Federation Cup alone, showing that talent is bubbling at the national level.
Infrastructure is slowly catching up with ambition. National camps at JSW’s Inspire Institute of Sport, the Athletics Federation of India’s initiatives, and private academies supported by corporates like Reliance Foundation are creating ecosystems for world-class development. The role of seasoned coaches, biomechanical analysis, dietary support, and access to international competitions is becoming more widespread. The days of isolated village training on dusty fields are slowly being replaced by high-performance labs.
Former international javelin throwers and coaches believe the next three years are crucial. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on the horizon, the task is to not just sustain this level but raise it further. India has already shown it can produce champions—now it must create consistency. For that, throwing over 85m must become a norm, not a surprise.
There’s also a psychological shift at play. Indian throwers are no longer showing up to global events to just participate—they arrive to win. This confidence, inspired by Neeraj’s calm dominance on the world stage, is filtering down to younger athletes. They’ve seen what’s possible. They know the distance between them and the world’s best isn’t insurmountable.
In the larger narrative of Indian athletics, javelin is becoming a flagship discipline. If this pace continues, by the time the world gathers in Los Angeles in 2028, India might no longer be celebrating individual brilliance. It could very well be celebrating a team—perhaps even a podium sweep. What started with one golden arm is now a javelin army in the making.