New Delhi: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is gearing up for another big test as he takes the field in the Diamond League Final in Zurich on August 28. The 27-year-old world champion will lock horns with some of his fiercest rivals including Grenada’s Anderson Peters and Germany’s Julian Weber, in a bid to reclaim the trophy he last won in 2022.
Chopra had to settle for second place in the last two editions of the Final, and this year he arrives in Switzerland after a stop-start campaign. He skipped the Silesia and Brussels legs of the prestigious one-day athletics series and did just enough to book his place in the showdown, finishing fourth in the qualifying rankings.
Season highlights so far
Despite a lighter schedule, Chopra has produced flashes of brilliance this season. His biggest moment came in May when he finally crossed the much-talked-about 90m barrier at the Doha leg with a throw of 90.23m. However, his personal best was only good enough for second place as Weber edged past him to claim first place.
A month later, Chopra bounced back strongly in Paris, clinching gold with a best of 88.16m. Overall, he has competed in six events this season and has won four and finished runner-up twice. His most recent outing came at the NC Classic in Bengaluru in early July, where he won with a throw of 86.18m in front of home fans.
Other contenders on the list
Along with Chopra, the Diamond League Final men’s javelin line-up features a high-quality cast. Defending champion Anderson Peters, former Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott, Moldova’s Andrian Mardare, Kenya’s Julius Yego and Germany’s Julian Weber have all qualified. Host nation thrower Simon Wieland has also been added as a local entry.
The competition promises fireworks with Peters looking to defend his crown, Weber chasing consistency after his Doha win and Chopra eager to add another major trophy to his cabinet ahead of next month’s World Championships in Tokyo.
What’s at stake?
THe Diamond League Final remains one of the most prestigious stages in athletics outside of the Olympics and World Championships. It’s a winner-takes-all format with each champion receiving the iconic Diamond Trophy, a wild card spot for the upcoming Worlds and prize money of USD 30,000.
For Chopra, the Zurich showdown is about more than just the cheque or silverware. It’s another chance to test himself against the best to fine-tune his form, and to remind the world that he remains the man to beat in men’s javelin.
When does Chopra complete?
The men’s javelin final is scheduled for the second day of the Diamond League Final on August 28. Neeraj Chopra will take the field at 19:45 local time in Zurich, which translates to 11:15 pm IST on Thursday night.