Zurich Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra Finishes At Second But Who Left Him Behind?

New Delhi: Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra finished at second position in the Zurich Diamond League, making the whole nation proud one more time. Within days of winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, Chopra gave another gift to the poeple.

India’s rising star Neeraj Chopra has achieved heights by being the World Champion. In the recently-held Zurich Diamond league, Chopra left Germany behind while he was surpassed by Czech Jakub Vadlejch with a best of 85. 71m.

Chopra started with a throw of 80. 79m on his first attempt. He then fouled on the second and third attempts, sending him down to fifth, with German Julian Weber leading the way.

The Indian athlete promoted with an 85. 22m throw on his fourth attempt, putting him in second place behind frontman Jakub Vadlejch. Chopra fouled another on his fifth attempt to finish second behind Vadlejch.

On the final attempt, Chopra threw a distance of 85. 71m, almost surpassing Vadlejch’s best effort of 85. 86m. At the 2023 World Athletics Championships, held in Budapest, Hungary, Chopra made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal.

He achieved the feat with the best throw of 88. 17m in the men’s javelin throw final. He made it through to the final round on his first throw (88. 77m) and won the final against a world-class pitcher. He also qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics thanks to his qualifying efforts.

Zurich Diamond League: Men's Javelin (C'tsy: Diamond League)
Zurich Diamond League: Men’s Javelin (C’tsy: Diamond League)

Prior To Gold Medals

Before winning the gold medal in 2023, Chopra also won the historic silver medal at the World Championships in Oregon in 2022. This is India’s second medal at the World Athletics Championships after the medal. Anju Bobby George’s bronze medal in 2003. always impresses.

In May 2023, he took first place in the Doha Diamond League with a throw of 88. 67m. In the same month, he took first place in the men’s javelin throw ranking published by World Athletics for the first time.

With a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, 25-year-old Chopra has now won gold at every major international event. The second place in Zurich also confirms Neeraj’s good record in the Diamond League tournaments.

Neeraj won the 2022 Diamond League final in the same city with a throw of 88. 44m. He will then maintain this form until 2023 by winning in Doha and continuing to win in Lausanne with a throw of 87. 67 m.