The 2023 World Athletics Championships are to be held in Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to August 27.
Neeraj Chopra will lead the Indian contingent with the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist entering the global event as a wild card, courtesy of him being the reigning Diamond League champion.
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Javelin thrower Kishore Jena and long jumper Shaili Singh are also among the Indians who made the cut in the final list of qualified athletes for the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
How big is Indian contingent for the 2023 World Athletics Championships?
Jena will join Chopra and DP Manu as one of the three male javelin throwers representing India in the event, while Rohit Yadav, also a qualified athlete, will miss out due to a long-term injury.
Race walker Ram Baboo was the first athlete to qualify for the event via the world ranking route earlier this year.
This year, a remarkable total of 28 Indian athletes, including a men's relay team, have qualified for the prestigious championships, marking the highest-ever representation of Indian athletes at the event.
In the last edition of the championships in Eugene 2022, there were 23 Indian athletes competing.
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Who are the five Indian athletes who can shine at the 2023 World Athletics Championships?
Neeraj Chopra: All eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra as he will gallop with the spear in his hand in Budapest. He remains India's brightest hope for a gold medal from the championship. The athlete had won silver in the javelin throw last year in Eugene and would hope to better the colour of the medal in this edition.
Avinash Sable: The 3000m steeplechase specialist became the first Indian to secure qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics after he breached the required standard of 8:15.00 at the Silesia Diamond League 2023 athletics meet after clocking his season's best time of 8:11.63. He will look to improve his personal best of 8:11.20 in Budapest by giving his best in the global event.
Shaili Singh: Shaili Singh has set her eyes on Anju Bobby George's national record of 6.83m, which has stood for 19 years. Her personal best stands at 6.76m and she hopes to beat her mentor's record in Budapest. She has already breached the Asian Games qualifying mark with that 6.76m jump in Bengaluru in April and her 6.65m effort helped her finish third at the prestigious Seiko Golden Grand Prix in May. If she is able to produce her best, then she might earn a podium finish as well.
Jeswin Aldrin: Another star in the making, India's Aldrin is currently leading the long-jump global charts in 2023 with an 8.42m leap that he managed to score in March. Although he has breached the eight-metre mark on just occasions, if he can remain composed and go close to his potential a medal should be within his reach.
Praveen Chitravel: The triple-jumper qualified for the 2023 World Athletics Championship by recording a leap of 17.37m in an athletics meet in Havana, Cuba, on May 6 which is now a national record. Recently in July, he produced a 16.59m score to secure the sixth position in the men's triple jump event at the Monaco Diamond League. It was a disappointing one as it was the first time in four outdoor meets this year that Chithravel did not cross the 17m mark. He will look to improve his performance at one of the biggest tournaments and his aim will be better his personal best and set a new national record.
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How many medals have India won in the World Athletics Championships?
India has had a limited history of success at the World Athletics Championships.
Prior to this year, the country had only secured two medals: Anju Bobby George's historic bronze in women's long jump in 2003 and Neeraj Chopra's silver in men's javelin in 2022.