Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra qualified for his maiden Athletic World Championships with a throw of 83.32m at the Asian Grand Prix in Jixiang, China. The qualification mark for the World Championships to be held in London in August this year is 83m.

Neeraj's throw was the eighth best recorded in all competitions this year, and was enough to ensure a silver medal behind Chao Tsun Cheng of Chinese Taipei, who threw the spear 86.92m.

Neeraj had won the World Youth Championships last year -- the only Indian athlete to win a World Championship at any level -- with a junior world record of 86.48m. He is competing in only his second competition of the year. He had earlier participated at the Asian GP in Jinhua on April 25 where he had recorded a best throw of 82.11m.

"I was expecting to throw over 85m but I am happy with my effort as the conditions were not good for throwing," Neeraj said.

Indeed, according to deputy chief coach RK Nair who accompanied the team, most athletes found it difficult on the day.

"It had rained the day before we had arrived and so temperature was very low," Nair said. "The stadium in Jixiang isn't a purpose-built athletics stadium. It is open on two sides, which made conditions very windy. The track was also quite old so it was difficult to create any sort of power. No athlete was able to do anything close to their best."

Neeraj recorded a sequence of 81.62, a foul throw, and 81.41m before throwing his silver medal winning effort. However, instead of chasing the gold medal, he decided to skip his final two attempts.

"I didn't want to risk the chance of an injury," he explained.

Neeraj's sights are now set on the World Championships, which will be his first at the world level in the senior category. He had failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics as the throw he recorded at the World Youth Championships came after the final qualifying date. As it turned out, his effort would have been enough to win him the bronze medal in Brazil.

While he missed out on bettering his personal best, coach Nair feels Neeraj could very well peak in time for London.

"This is still very early in the season. To have thrown 83 metres so early is remarkable," Nair said. "He still has another three months to go for the World Championships. We still have another Asian GP in Taiwan and then an Asian GP in India and then the Asian Championships before the Worlds'. He could very well improve even more."

Neeraj's plans could yet hit a snag, though. His coach Garry Calvert, under whom he had trained en route the Youth World gold, had put in his resignation earlier this month as he had not been issued a contract extension until the 2020 Olympics.

However, this isn't unfamiliar territory for Neeraj, who is an almost entirely self-taught athlete.

"I never had a dedicated javelin coach until I first came to the national camp two years ago," Neeraj had said. Even there, he had quickly dropped out of training under the national coach saying the methodology wasn't working for him.

Neeraj, who first learned to throw a javelin from a senior colleague at the Panipat stadium, picked up his entire technique observing other athletes and by watching YouTube videos of the legendary Jan Zelezny.

Zelezny, who won five World Championship medals including three golds, has been one of the biggest influences for Neeraj. And while it's too early to say whether Neeraj will come anywhere near the achievements of the legendary Czech, with his effort on Thursday, he will at least get a chance to give it a shot.