India’s Olympic javelin star Neeraj Chopra made a stellar comeback in the Diamond League circuit, clinching his first title in two years at the Paris leg of this prestigious athletics series. The 27-year-old excelled against a competitive field, including his German rival Julian Weber, with an impressive first-round throw of 88.16 metres.
While he did not surpass the elusive 90m mark, Chopra’s initial throw was sufficient to maintain his lead in a competition featuring five elite athletes who have exceeded the 90m benchmark. His other attempts measured 85.10m, along with three fouls, and a final effort of 82.89m. Weber secured second place with a throw of 87.88m, while Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva took third with 86.62m.
After the event, Chopra expressed his satisfaction with his performance, saying, “I’m happy with my throw and especially with the win. My run-up was very fast today-maybe too fast to control-but I’m satisfied with the result.”
This victory marks Chopra’s first Diamond League win since June 2023 in Lausanne, where he recorded a throw of 87.66m. Since then, he had finished second in six competitions, including one in Doha this season, where despite crossing the 90m mark at 90.23m, he was narrowly beaten by Weber’s final throw of 91.06m.
The reigning Olympic gold and silver medallist is now preparing for the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava on June 24, followed by the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, a World Athletics category A event named in his honor.
“I hope for more 90-metre throws this season. Having done it in Doha gives me confidence. But it depends on the weather, my form, and how the body feels,” Chopra added.
Chopra’s return to the Paris Diamond League was particularly meaningful, as his last appearance there was in 2017 as a junior world champion, where he finished fifth with a throw of 84.67m.
The competition also saw strong contenders falter, with Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finishing fourth at 81.66m, followed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters at 80.29m and Kenya’s Julius Yego at 80.26m.
Chopra started his 2025 season by winning a modest title at an invitational event in South Africa, throwing 84.52m. Since that time, his performance has gained momentum, positioning him as one of the favorites heading into the World Championships later this year.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/sport/story/neeraj-chopra-diamond-league-paris-win-88m-throw-1232395-2025-06-21?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2025-06-21 10:16:00
