Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra achieved a commendable second place at the Diamond League Final in Brussels on Sunday, delivering a best throw of 87.86 meters. Chopra fell just 1 centimeter short of the top position, which was claimed by Grenada’s Anderson Peters with a throw of 87.87 meters. Peters, who won a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics, narrowly edged out Chopra for first place.
Germany’s Julian Weber finished in third with a throw of 85.97 meters, while Adrian Mardare of Romania took fourth place with a distance of 82.97 meters. Japanese athlete Genki Rodrick Dean came in fifth with a throw of 80.37 meters, and Ukrainian Arthur Felfner rounded out the top six with a mark of 79.86 meters on his penultimate attempt.
Also Read: Sumit Antil Dedicates Second Paralympic Gold To PM Modi
Chopra began the competition with a throw of 86.82 meters and followed with 83.49 meters. His standout attempt came in his third throw, reaching 87.86 meters. Despite his strong performance, he was unable to surpass Peters’ mark, and his subsequent attempts fell short of the 85-meter mark. He concluded the event with a final throw of 86.46 meters, securing the second spot.
This season has been challenging for Chopra, who has struggled with fitness issues and a persistent groin injury. He plans to consult with a doctor to address this injury, which has hindered his ability to reach the 90-meter mark.
However, Chopra had previously won the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League in both 2022 and 2023 but finished second behind Vadlejch in the winner-takes-all finale in Eugene, USA, last year.
