Kishore Jena Ruled Out Of Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, Who Will Be His Replacement?

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In a significant blow to India's premier javelin competition, the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 will be without one of its brightest stars - Kishore Jena.

The Asian Games silver medallist has been ruled out of the event due to an ankle injury, just days before the much-awaited meet scheduled for July 5 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Jena, who captured national attention with his stunning 87.54m throw at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, was touted as one of the key challengers to Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at this international-level event. His absence is a major disappointment for fans hoping to witness a high-octane face-off between India's top javelin talents and the global elite.

With Jena sidelined, the organisers have named Yash Vir Singh as his replacement in the Indian lineup. Ranked 41st in the world, Yash Vir brings competitive experience to the table. He registered a personal best of 82.57m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships held in Gumi, South Korea - a performance that signals his readiness to take on the global field.

Singh now joins a strong Indian contingent that includes Neeraj Chopra, Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, and Sahil Silwal. Despite Jena's absence, the event promises high-quality competition, especially with an elite international lineup featuring the likes of Anderson Peters (Grenada), Thomas Röhler (Germany) - a two-time world champion - and Julius Yego (Kenya), the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medallist.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 is India's first-ever international javelin competition and is set to be a landmark moment for athletics in the country. It is being organised through a collaboration between Neeraj Chopra, JSW Sports, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and World Athletics (WA). Initially scheduled for May 24, the meet was postponed due to security concerns and rescheduled for July 5.

All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra, who is coming into the event in sublime form. He recently claimed his first Diamond League victory in two years and earlier this season crossed the 90m barrier for the first time in Doha. Most recently, he clinched top honours at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29m.

While Jena's injury is a setback, the Neeraj Chopra Classic still promises to deliver a historic night of javelin excellence - and for Yash Vir Singh, it's an opportunity to step up on one of the biggest stages Indian athletics has ever hosted.