Recapping Indian Athletics In 2025: Neeraj Chopra Reaches New High; Rampant Doping Sinks India To New Low

Last Updated:December 22, 2025, 13:05 IST

In 2025, Neeraj Chopra crossed 90 metres and India hosted world-class meets -- but, doping continues to plague Indian athletics at its very roots.

(Credit: X)

Despite a rare dip in form, Neeraj Chopra remained the lone bright light in an Indian athletics season weighed down by relentless doping scandals, even as administrators pushed to position the country as a global events hub in a mixed-bag 2025.

Neeraj Chopra’s 2025: Marriage, Milestones, and Missed Magic

2025 was a year of contrasts for Chopra. He quietly married tennis player Himani Mor, then went on to win multiple elite meets, including the Paris Diamond League and Golden Spike.

Chopra even finally shook off the much-talked-about 90-metre barrier, launching the javelin to 90.23m at the Doha Diamond League — a psychological milestone years in the making. But the high didn’t last.

Battling back pain, the Olympic champion endured a stunning early exit at the World Championships in Tokyo, finishing eighth and missing the podium for the first time since his golden run began in 2021.

Adding to the surprise, Sachin Yadav outshone his idol, finishing fourth in Tokyo and announcing himself as India’s next potential world-class javelin thrower.

Doping: A Crisis That Won’t Go Away

Off the field, Indian athletics continued to wrestle with its biggest enemy: doping.

The country once again ranked second globally for doping bans, with high-profile names like Olympian Shivpal Singh and Asian Games medallist Seema Punia joining a growing list of offenders. In a grim first, athlete–coach duos and even minors were suspended, underlining the depth of the problem.

From elite internationals to teenage athletes, bans piled up. The AFI responded by launching an anti-doping cell, cracking down on rogue coaches, and tightening eligibility rules for national honours — a necessary cleanup after years of embarrassment.

India’s Big Hosting Push

Still, there were positives. India hosted two World Athletics Continental Tour events — one won by Chopra himself — and submitted ambitious bids, including for the 2031 World Athletics Championships in Ahmedabad.

India successfully staged a World Athletics bronze meet in Bhubaneswar, with plans already in place to upgrade it. Fresh bids for Asian and global events followed, as the AFI looked to shift the narrative from scandal to stature.

(with PTI inputs)

News sports Recapping Indian Athletics In 2025: Neeraj Chopra Reaches New High; Rampant Doping Sinks India To New Low

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