Indian javelin throw star Neeraj Chopra showcased his resilience and talent at the Diamond League in Lausanne, securing a second-place finish with a season-best throw of 89.49m. The competition proved to be a test of nerves, with Chopra finding himself in fourth position after the fourth round. However, he displayed remarkable composure, drawing upon advice from his Kenyan rival, Julius Yego, who urged him to relax and focus on his throw.
In his fifth attempt, Chopra unleashed a powerful throw of 85.58m, propelling him back into the top three and ensuring his place in the final round. His final throw, a stunning 89.49m, secured him the second spot behind Anderson Peters of Grenada, who threw an impressive 90.61m. This performance marked a slight improvement from his 89.45m throw at the Paris Olympics just days earlier.
Chopra attributed his success to Yego’s guidance, acknowledging the calming effect of his words. “In the first throw, I thought I will do this, I will do that but in the last throw, I did not, also Julius Yego said ‘relax, you will throw far’. I tried to relax,” he said. Yego himself finished sixth with an effort of 83m.
Looking ahead, Chopra hinted at competing in one or two more events before ending his season, potentially in the Diamond League finale in Brussels. His second-place finish in Lausanne earned him seven valuable points, bringing his total to 15, tying him with Weber for third place in the Diamond League standings. Peters moved into the top spot with 21 points, while Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch, who finished seventh with a throw of 82.03m, holds second place with 16 points.
Despite battling a persistent groin injury, Chopra’s recent performances demonstrate his unwavering commitment and dedication to the sport. He secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics on August 8, adding to his historic gold from the Tokyo Games three years ago. As he looks towards next year, Chopra has set his sights on regaining full fitness and continuing his dominance in the javelin throw. “First goal, go to the doctor and make my groin 100 percent fit and also I will be technically better and try to throw far again,” he stated.
