The 27-year-old reigning world champion enters the summit clash after qualifying in fourth place, having competed in just two of the four qualifying legs. Chopra had earlier claimed the DL title in 2022 before finishing runner-up in 2023 and 2024.
Neeraj Chopra (photo: IANS)
Two-time Olympic medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will look to reclaim the Diamond League (DL) Final crown when he lines up against a world-class field in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday.
The 27-year-old reigning world champion enters the summit clash after qualifying in fourth place, having competed in just two of the four qualifying legs. Chopra had earlier claimed the DL title in 2022 before finishing runner-up in 2023 and 2024.
Advertisement
This season, Chopra has been in fine form, crossing the 90m mark for the first time in Doha with a throw of 90.23m, though he finished second to Germany’s Julian Weber. He bounced back to win the Paris leg with 88.16m.
Advertisement
Overall, he has featured in six competitions this year, winning four and finishing second in two, including his most recent outing at the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, where he topped the field with 86.18m.
Chopra will face stiff competition from defending champion Anderson Peters, Germany’s Weber, Keshorn Walcott, Andrian Mardare and Julius Yego, while Swiss thrower Simon Wieland has earned a host-nation entry.
The men’s javelin final is scheduled for August 28, with the winner taking home USD 30,000 along with the Diamond Trophy and a wild-card entry to the World Championships in Tokyo.
After the DL final, Chopra will head to Tokyo to defend his world title from September 13 to 21.
The Diamond League Final is a winner-takes-all event across 32 disciplines, with enhanced prize money announced this year for champions in eight of them.
Advertisement
