Eugene (TIP)- Neeraj Chopra will carry a billion hopes into the World Championships for yet another landmark result and it shouldn’t be a surprise if long jumper Murali Sreeshankar also grabs a slice of history at the showpiece. Chopra is cherishing phenomenal results this season. From an 89.30 metres throw at the Paavo Nurmi Games to 89.94m at the Diamond League Meeting, the star athlete has improved his personal best twice.

Given the form he is in, the Tokyo Olympics champion is expected to become only the second Indian and first male player from the country to win a medal at the Worlds.

Chopra’s main rival for the gold medal will be the defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada. Peters is the favourite to win gold as he owns four of the top-five throws this season. His best effort of 93.07m is also the best result this season. The two qualifying rounds of the men’s javelin throw competition will be held on July 21, while the final will be held two days later.

National record holder long jumper Murali Sreeshankar will be a dark horse as he sits at the joint second place among the season leaders with his 8.36m effort during the Federation Cup in April. He will be seen in action on Friday in the qualifying rounds. Another Indian, Jeswin Aldrin, who had a wind-assisted 8.37m jump during the Federation Cup, will also be in the fray.

In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, Avinash Sable will have to improve his timing by several seconds from his national record effort of 8 minutes and 12.48 seconds if he wants to be in contention for a podium finish in a tough field. He will compete in the heats on Friday. Source: PTI