New Delhi: India’s javelin ace Neeraj Chopra finished second in the Lausanne Diamond League 2024, recovering well in time to manage a season’s best throw of 89.49 metres in his last attempt on Thursday. Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who bagged a bronze medal in the Paris Olympics 2024, finished on top as he won the event with a monstrous 90.61-metre final throw. Julian Weber of Germany took the third spot with 87.08 metres.
Neeraj started the event on a dull note, throwing the javelin in the 83-metre range but scripted a brilliant turnaround in his last two attempts of the total six, which ensured his track record of finishing in the top two in international tournaments remains intact. Neeraj struggled with his first three throws, registering 82.10 metres, 83.21 metres and 83.13 metres and was at fourth spot till the fourth round.
His competitors Peters, Weber, Artur Felfner, and Roderick Dean Genki went ahead of him but Chopra sent the spear to 85.58 metres in his fifth attempt. Saving the best for his last, he reached 89.49 metres in his sixth and final attempt as he bettered his performance in the Paris Olympics. Chopra claimed a silver medal at the Summer Games earlier this month with an 89.45-metre throw. After four rounds, danger lurked upon Chopra as only the top three after five rounds get their respective final attempts, courtesy of his fifth throw.
Maintaining his top-two-finish track record in international tournaments, the last time Neeraj finished outside the top three was in the Diamond League in Zurich in 2018. Other podium finishers Peters and Weber threw the javelin to 90.61m and 82.33m respectively. It was Peters’ season’s best and a meet record. Neeraj gave it his all in the final throw but was disappointed after marginally missing the 90-metre mark.
It was a tough start – Neeraj
“The feeling wasn’t great at first, but I’m happy with my throw, especially the second (career) best throw on my last attempt. It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed. Even though my early throws were around 80-83m, I pushed hard in the last two attempts finishing strong. Competing at this high level, it’s important to stay mentally tough and fight through,” Chopra said after the event.
Other than being a season-best effort, the 89.49-metre mark is also his second-best mark ever. He received seven points from the second-place finish on Thursday and will be on joint third spot with Weber on the Diamond League standings with 15 points. Meanwhile, Peters jumped to the top with 21 points. It is understood that Chopra has been dealing with his groin injury since winning the Budapest World Championships gold last year.
Neeraj Chopra bettered his Paris Olympics 2024 final throw as he finished second at the Lausanne Diamond League 2024 with a season’s best effort to keep his track record intact. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
