Chopra takes field in bid for Diamond League title

Lausanne, August 21

Two weeks after winning his historic silver medal at the Paris Olympics, star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will resume action at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on Thursday, seeking to reclaim the Diamond League trophy at the season-ending finale next month.

Nursing a long-standing groin injury, Chopra claimed a silver in the Paris Olympics on August 8 with a 89.45m throw, having won a historic gold in the Tokyo edition of the Games three years ago.

The 26-year-old double Olympics medallist Indian on Saturday confirmed his participation at the Diamond League meeting in Lausanne, leaving a decision on a possible surgery till the end of the season.

Chopra was the Diamond League champion in 2022 and finished second behind Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic in the winner-takes-all Diamond League final in Eugene, USA, last year.

This season’s finals will be held in Brussels on September 14. He needs to finish in the top-six of the Diamond League series standings to qualify for the season finale.

There is another meeting — in Zurich on September 5 — which has men’s javelin throw event in its roster.

He is currently at fourth spot with seven points that he has garnered after finishing second behind Vadlejch in the Doha leg on May 10.

Chopra is determined to finish the season on a high despite being restricted by the injury.