Neeraj Chopra Shines Amidst Doping Crisis; India Pushes Global Hosting in 2025 Athletics

• Neeraj Chopra had a mixed 2025: married Himani Mor, won Paris Diamond League & Golden Spike, and broke the 90m barrier with a 90.23m throw in Doha.
• Chopra faced a setback with an early exit (8th place) at the World Championships in Tokyo due to back pain, his first missed podium since 2021.
• Sachin Yadav emerged as a promising javelin thrower, finishing fourth at the Tokyo World Championships.
• Indian athletics faced a severe doping crisis, ranking second globally for bans, involving Olympians like Shivpal Singh, Seema Punia, and even minors.
• India actively pursued hosting international events, staging two World Athletics Continental Tours and bidding for the 2031 World Athletics Championships in Ahmedabad.

Why It Matters: 2025 saw Neeraj Chopra's highs and lows, a persistent doping crisis, and India's push for global event hosting.