Neeraj to skip as Sable, Yarraji lead Indian contingent at Asian Athletics Championships 2025

Gumi [South Korea], April 26 (ANI): Avinash Sable, Jyothi Yarraji, and Praveen Chithravel are some of the notable inclusions in the Indian line-up for the Asian Athletics Championships starting from May 27 onwards, with Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra giving the tournament a miss.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the squad on Friday, following the conclusion of the Federation Cup in Kochi, which served as the final selection trial event, according to Olympics.com.
The participation in the Federation Cup was mandatory for athletes to be selected, except for a few elite stars. Steeplechasers Avinash Sable and Parul Chaudhary, both national record holders, were given exemptions.
Neeraj's schedule begins with the Doha Diamond League on May 16 and will also include the first-ever Neeraj Chopra Classic event in Bengaluru on May 24, which will cause him to miss out. In his absence, Sachin Yadav and Yashvir Singh will be representing the tricolour in the men's javelin throw.
Asian Games gold medalists Annu Rani and Tajinderpal Singh Toor are among the notable names missing. The Indian squad also includes several Olympians, Asian Games medalists, and national record holders.
Chithravel, who equalled his national record with a 17.37 m leap on Thursday, will be representing India in the men's triple jump along with the current Asian champion Abdulla Aboobacker.
Yarraji will also be aiming to defend her 100 m hurdles title, while Tejaswin Shankar will be playing in the decathlon. Sprinter Animesh Kujur, after breaking the 200m national record, will also be featuring in the national team.
The women's squad will also feature long jumpers Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan, along with quarter-milers Rupal Chaudhary and Vithya Ramraj, the latter also named in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay.
During the last Asian Athletics Championships held in Bangkok back in 2023, India finished with a total of 27 medals, including six gold, 12 silver, and nine bronze.
Indian athletes finished with 27 medals - six gold, 12 silver and nine bronze - at the last Asian Athletics Championships, held in Bangkok in 2023. The current edition will conclude on May 31.
-Asian Athletics Championships 2025: India team
Men
200m: Animesh Kujur
800m: Anu Kumar, Krishan Kumar
1500m: Yoonus Shah
3000m steeplechase: Avinash Sable
5000m: Gulveer Singh, Abhishek Pal
10,000m: Gulveer Singh, Sawan Barwal
Triple jump: Praveen Chithravel, Abdulla Aboobacker
High jump: Sarvesh Kushare
Shot put: Samardeep Singh Gill
Javelin throw: Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh
Decathlon: Tejaswin Shankar
20km race walk: Servin Sebastian, Amit
4x100m: Pranav Pramod, Animesh Kujur, Manikanta Hoblidar, Amlan Borgohain, Tamilarasu, Ragul Kumar, Gurvinder Singh
4x400m: Vishal TK, Jay Kumar, Manu TS, Dharamveer Chaudhary, Rince Joseph, Tushar Kanti, Santosh Kumar, Mohit Kumar
Women
200m: Nithya Gandhe
400m: Rupal Chaudhary, Vithya Ramraj
800m: Twinkle Chaudhary, Pooja
1500m: Lili Das, Pooja
3000m steeplechase: Parul Chaudhary, Ankita
5000m: Sanjivani Baburao, Parul Chaudhary
10000m: Sanjivani Baburao, Seema
100m hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji
400m hurdles: Vithya Ramraj, Anu R
Long jump: Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan
High jump: Pooja
Heptathlon: Nandini Agasara
4x100m: Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan, Sneha S, Srabani Nanda, Daneshwari, V Sudeeksha
4x400m: Rupal, Sneha K, Subha Venkatesan, Jisna Mathew, Kunja Rajitha, Sandramol Sabu. (ANI)