- Friday, February 28, 2025
Returning from a month-long injury lay-off, Chopra overcame challenging conditions to assert his dominance in the prestigious competition.
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIAN javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday (30) secured his second consecutive Diamond League title with a throw of 87.66m, reaffirming his status as an Olympic champion. However, Chopra fell short of his goal to reach the coveted 90-metre mark during the Lausanne leg of the competition in Switzerland. Returning from a month-long injury lay-off, Chopra overcame challenging conditions to assert his dominance in the prestigious one-day meet.
Very happy to make my return with a 87.66m throw and first place finish at #LausanneDL. Thanks for your prayers and support. Jai hind! ?? pic.twitter.com/Gy7EPknOJq
— Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) July 1, 2023
“Very happy to make my return with a 87.66m throw and first place finish at #LausanneDL. Thanks for your prayers and support. Jai hind!” he tweeted.
Despite not being at his best, the 25-year-old Chopra displayed his resilience and showcased his potential in the early rounds. It wasn’t until his fifth attempt that he took the lead, having held the second spot throughout the previous rounds. Expressing his nervousness due to his recent injury, Chopra acknowledged the cold weather in Lausanne but remained optimistic about his progress. He emphasized his satisfaction with the win, highlighting the importance of perseverance.
Chopra’s victory garnered widespread praise, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who lauded the athlete’s exceptional performances and acknowledged his commitment to excellence. The competition took place under cloudy skies with a temperature of 17 degrees Celsius and 78% humidity.
The ace athlete’s journey to victory included a foul in his first attempt, followed by throws of 83.52m and 85.04m. Another foul in the fourth round preceded his title-winning throw of 87.66m. In the final round, he recorded a distance of 84.15m. Julian Weber of Germany secured second place with a throw of 87.03m, while Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, the season-leader and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist, finished third with an 86.13m effort. Reigning world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada struggled and finished fifth with a best throw of 82.23m.
Chopra, with a personal best of 89.94m, solidified his position at the top of the Diamond League standings with 16 points. Vadlejch followed closely with 13 points, and Weber secured 12 points. The upcoming legs in Monaco and Zurich will also feature the men’s javelin throw before the Diamond League grand finale in Eugene, USA.
He had previously won the Lausanne leg in 2022, marking his maiden Diamond League victory. He later became the first Indian Diamond League champion by triumphing at the 2022 grand finale in Zurich. The injury forced him to withdraw from several events but did not hinder his participation in the Diamond League.
In the men’s long jump, India’s Murali Sreeshankar finished fifth with a below-par jump of 7.88m. LaQuan Nairn of the Bahamas secured the top spot with an 8.11m jump, followed by Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece with 8.07m, and Yuki Hashioka of Japan with 7.98m.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Chopra on Twitter, saying, “Congratulations to
@Neeraj_chopra1 for shining at the Lausanne Diamond League. Thanks to his extraordinary performances, he has finished at the top of the table. His talent, dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence is commendable.”
Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for shining at the Lausanne Diamond League. Thanks to his extraordinary performances, he has finished at the top of the table. His talent, dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence is commendable. pic.twitter.com/8EKIpKqr5U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2023
(With agency inputs)
