Just two weeks after making history as the first Indian to win back-to-back Olympic medals in athletics, Neeraj Chopra is set to return to the track for the Lausanne Diamond League meet on Thursday. Despite a recent groin injury, Chopra has chosen to continue his season and compete in the prestigious event.
Chopra’s performance in the recent Paris Olympics saw him secure a bronze medal with a season-best throw of 89.45 meters at the Stade de France. However, this was not enough to defend his Olympic title as Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem took the gold with a record-breaking throw of 92.97m. This marked the first time Arshad had outperformed Chopra in 11 competitions.
Their rivalry extends back to the 2023 World Athletics Championships where Chopra emerged victorious, while Arshad took the silver medal. Both athletes are participating in the Diamond League this season, but they will not clash in Lausanne. Arshad has returned to Pakistan following his Olympic triumph and will not be competing in this leg of the Diamond League.
Chopra’s participation in Lausanne comes amidst a challenging situation, as he manages his recovery from a groin injury. However, he will be joined by other top javelin throwers, including Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch and Grenada’s Anderson Peters. This event promises to be a thrilling display of athleticism and competition, as some of the world’s best javelin throwers vie for victory in Lausanne.
