The Golden Boy Neeraj Chopra finished second with an 87.86-metre throw.
Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed claiming the Diamond Trophy, finishing a mere 1 cm behind winner Anderson Peters. Chopra’s best throw of 87.86m was eclipsed by Peters’ winning attempt of 87.87m, which came on his first try, leaving the Indian athlete with a heartbreaking second-place finish.
Neeraj Chopra faced stiff competition from top throwers, including Paris 2024 bronze medalist Anderson Peters of Grenada and Germany’s Julian Weber. Despite the challenge, Chopra secured a silver medal, adding to his impressive Olympic record, which includes his historic gold medal victory at the Tokyo Games.
Neeraj Chopra secured a spot in the Diamond League final by finishing fourth in the overall standings, accumulating 14 points from his impressive performances in Doha and Lausanne, where he claimed second place on both occasions.
The winner of the Diamond League season finale takes home a coveted ‘Diamond Trophy’, a cash prize of $30,000, and a guaranteed spot in the World Athletics Championships. The first runner-up receives a prize of $12,000.
Neeraj Chopra, 26, narrowly missed the top spot, finishing just two points behind Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch. Meanwhile, Grenada’s Anderson Peters dominated with 29 points, followed closely by Germany’s Julian Weber with 21 points.
Diamond League Standings
1. Anderson Peters (Grenada)
2. Julian Weber (Germany)
3. Jakub Vadlejch (Czechia)
4. Neeraj Chopra (India)
Neeraj Chopra’s season has been hampered by fitness issues, particularly a persistent groin injury that has prevented him from reaching his target of throwing beyond 90m. To address this ongoing concern, Chopra is scheduled to consult a doctor to rectify the issue and regain optimal fitness.
Neeraj Chopra’s immediate priority is to consult a doctor and fully recover from his groin injury, aiming for 100% fitness. Following that, he plans to focus on technical improvements, allowing him to regain his top form and strive for greater throwing distances.
Neeraj Chopra has a strong track record in the Diamond League, having consecutively won the Lausanne leg in 2022 and 2023. However, he narrowly missed out on the top spot in the 2023 finale in Eugene, USA, finishing second to Jakub Vadlejch in a winner-takes-all contest.
The Diamond League finale will mark the end of Chopra’s season.
Despite struggling with a persistent groin injury, Neeraj Chopra achieved a remarkable silver medal at the Paris Olympics on August 8. This impressive feat adds to his already illustrious career, which includes a historic gold medal won at the Tokyo Olympics three years prior.
Neeraj Chopra achieved his best throw of the season at the Lausanne Diamond League in Switzerland, reaching an impressive distance of 89.49 meters. This standout performance marked a highlight in his season, showcasing his skill and technique despite struggling with injury.
Speaking after his event, he said as quoted by Olympics.com, “The feeling was not great at first, but I am happy with my throw, especially the second-best throw on my last attempt,” Golden Boy said
“It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed.”
