Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra will lead a strong contingent including stars like steeplechaser Avinash Sable, long jumpers Jeswin Aldrin and Murali Sreeshankar and Jyothi Yarraji (women's 100m hurdles) who will participate in the World Athletics Championships to be held in Budapest from 19 to 27 August.
A total of 28 athletes will be representing India at the event with a total contingent of 42, including coaches and support staff, being sent from India.
Chopra, India's best hope for a medal, will lead the charge in the men's javelin throw, hoping to improve on the silver medal he won in Eugene last year and will have compatriots Kishore Jena and D.P. Manu will also be in contention. Chopra has excelled on the international stage, winning the Golden League Final in Zurich. In May this year, he won gold in the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88.67m.
In the previous edition, a total of 6 athletes reached the finals of their event at the World Championships with 3 of them making it in the top 8, even as Neeraj Chopra won a historic silver medal. It was India's best performance in any edition of the World Athletics Championships.
Out of 28 competing athletes, 15 would be competing at the World Championships for the very first time. Former U20 World Athletics Championships silver medalist, Shaili Singh, is the youngest member of the contingent. The 19-year-old would be competing in her first senior World Championships this year.
More than 2100 athletes from 202 nations will compete in the Hungarian capital’s new National Athletics Centre. Of the 44 individual winners from the 2022 edition in Oregon, 38 are entered to defend their titles in Budapest, with Peru’s double champion Kimberly Garcia set to contest both the 20km and 35km race walk events.
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce seeks a record-extending sixth world 100m title after she led a Jamaican sweep of the medals last year, winning a championship record of 10.67. Pawel Fajdek also has the chance to secure a sixth gold medal, having won the past five consecutive world hammer titles.
Ryan Crouser (shot put), Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), Faith Kipgeyon (1500m) and Yulimar Rojas (triple jump) are among the world record-holders who return, targeting back-to-back world title triumphs.
India's Contingent at the 2023 World Athletics Championships
Jyothi Yarraji - 100m Hurdles
Parul Chaudhary - 3000m Steeplechase
Shaili Singh - Long Jump
Annu Rani - Javelin Throw
Bhawna Jat - Race Walk
Krishan Kumar - 800m
Ajay Kumar Saroj - 1500m
Santhosh Kumar Tamilarnsan - 400m Hurdles
Avinash Mukund Sable - 3000m Steeplechase
Sarvesh Anil Kushare - High Jump
Jeswin Aldrin - Long Jump
M Sreeshankar - Long Jump
Praveen Chithravel - Triple Jump
Abdulla Aboobacker - Triple Jump
Eldhose Paul - Triple Jump
Neeraj Chopra - Javelin Throw
D.P Manu - Javelin Throw
Kishore Kumar Jena - Javelin Throw
Akashdeep Singh - Race Walk
Vikash Singh - Race Walk
Paramjeet Singh - Race Walk
Ram Baboo - Race Walk
Amoj Jacob - 4 x 400m Relay
Muhammed Ajmal - 4 x 400m Relay
Muhammed Anas - 4 x 400m Relay
Rajesh Ramesh - 4 x 400m Relay
Anil Rajalingam - 4 x 400m Relay
Mijo Chacko Kurian - 4 x 400m Relay
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