Devender Singh becomes 2nd Indian javelin thrower to qualify for London Worlds

Devender Singh has become the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra – junior world javelin champion – to qualify for the world championships to be held in London in August.

Devender Singh of Services joined world junior champion Neeraj Chopra by becoming the second Indian to meet the javelin qualifying mark for the August world athletics championships on Sunday.

Devender Singh has become the second Indian javelin thrower after Neeraj Chopra to qualify for the IAAF World Championships that will be held in London in August. (Image for representational purpose) (Getty Images)

Devender won the Indian Grand Prix first leg with a throw of 84.57m, meeting the qualifying mark of 83m.

Neeraj Chopra, 19, qualified on April 28 when he won silver in the second leg of the Asian Grand Prix in Jianxing, China.

(Read | Neeraj Chopra, junior world javelin champ, qualifies for London Worlds)

Chopra had won the 2016 World U-20 championships in Poland with a throw of 86.48m, a junior world mark as well as the Indian national record.

Devender, who is from the Army, had a previous personal best of 80.21m, achieved in last year’s Grand Prix event in Bangalore. So far, 15 Indians have qualified for the world meet, to be held from August 5 to 13.