Paris: India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra once again showcased his world-class prowess by winning the Paris leg of the Diamond League with a remarkable first-round throw of 88.16 meters. The reigning Olympic and World Champion secured the top podium finish with that single standout attempt, proving enough to outclass the competition on Friday night.
Launching the spear 88.16 meters in his opening effort, Chopra immediately surged to the front of the field and maintained his lead through the remainder of the contest. Despite recording three no-throws in the later rounds, his opening mark remained untouched.
Germany’s Julian Weber pushed hard with a best of 87.88 meters to settle for second place, while Brazil’s Mauricio Luiz da Silva secured the third spot with a top throw of 86.62 meters.
The first round saw Chopra set the benchmark, trailed by Weber (87.88m) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (80.94m). While Chopra managed 85.10 meters in the second round, Weber delivered 86.20 meters, but still fell short of the Indian star’s opener.
Mauricio da Silva entered the fray strongly in the third round, throwing 86.62 meters to leap into contention. However, Chopra’s early dominance left little room for surprise.
In the final stages, Weber attempted to stage a comeback with throws of 83.13 meters and 84.50 meters in the fourth and fifth rounds, but none came close to surpassing Chopra’s distance. The final round saw Chopra toss 82.89 meters, sealing his win in style.
With this victory, Neeraj Chopra continues to solidify his place at the top of the global javelin standings.
Looking ahead, Chopra is set to headline the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, now rescheduled for July 5. The meet was postponed from its original May 24 date due to geopolitical tensions, and will now serve as a key event in Chopra’s run-up to the Paris Olympics.
