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Neeraj Chopra, double Olympic medallist, delivered a statement performance at the Paris Diamond League on Saturday, seizing victory with a massive 88.16m throw on his very first attempt at Stade Charléty.
That opening effort immediately set the tone and remained untouched for the rest of the competition.
Although Chopra committed three fouls out of his six throws, his initial mark held firm in a fiercely contested field.
Germany’s Julian Weber, a former Diamond League winner and Chopra’s long-time rival, came closest with an 87.88m throw—also in the opening round.
Despite showing strong consistency, Weber couldn’t outdo Chopra and settled for second place.
Brazil’s Luiz Maurício da Silva delivered the surprise of the evening, notching a personal best of 86.62m in the third round. The throw not only secured him third place but also set a new South American record.
Return to Paris after 8 years
Saturday’s meet marked Chopra’s return to the Paris Diamond League for the first time since 2017, when he was still a rising star and finished fifth with an 84.67m throw.
This event was the eighth stop in the 2025 Diamond League calendar, which will conclude with a two-day finale in Zurich this August.
Chopra opened his 2025 season in style by winning the Potch Invitational in South Africa with a throw of 84.52m. He made headlines in Doha shortly after by breaking the 90m barrier for the first time, launching the javelin 90.23m to set a new Indian national record, though he narrowly lost to Weber, who achieved a personal best of 91.06m.
The duo clashed again at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Poland, where Weber edged Chopra once more, throwing 86.12m to Chopra’s 84.14m in challenging weather conditions.
In Paris, however, it was Chopra’s turn to shine again, reclaiming the top spot and reaffirming his place among the sport’s elite.
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