Neeraj Chopra returned to the field in spectacular fashion as he created history by finishing first in the Lausanne Diamond League and qualified for the final in Zurich.
This is the first time that Chopra has secured the first position in the Diamond League (courtesy: PTI)
highlighted
- This was Neeraj Chopra’s return to the field
- Chopra threw 89.08m in his first attempt
- With this result, the 24-year-old has qualified for the final in Zurich
India’s Neeraj Chopra created history on his return to the field as he finished first in the Lausanne Diamond League with an incredible 89.08m throw.
This is the first time that Chopra has claimed the top spot in the Diamond League event and has now booked a place in the final in Zurich.
Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra returned to action after completing his recovery in Germany. Neeraj suffered a groin injury during the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in late July. As a result, he had to skip CWG 2022 in Birmingham.
Earlier in the season, Neeraj had broken his personal best twice and set a new national record of 89.94m in the Stockholm Diamond League. Chopra’s second-place finish in Stockholm also placed her in contention for the six-athlete Diamond League Grand Final in Zurich, which will be held next month.
The Lausanne meet is the last men’s javelin throw competition of the 2022 Diamond League season. Jakob Vadlage of the Czech Republic leads the Diamond League javelin standings with 20 points. Germany’s Julian Weber is second with 19 points.
Grenada’s Andersen Peters is third with 16 points, but the current world javelin champion is unlikely to compete in Lausanne, following a home attack on 10 August by crew members of a party boat, thrown overboard. Earlier Neeraj Chopra is fourth with seven points, gathered from the only Diamond League event to have participated in Stockholm.
Lausanne Diamond League is the last chance for men’s javelin throwers to qualify for the Diamond League Final in Zurich, Switzerland on 7-8 September.
On Friday, in his first attempt, Chopra was able to hit the 89.08m mark and none of the other contestants could compete with the Indian star.
The 24-year-old then shot 85.18m in her second attempt and decided to sit in the third attempt.
Chopra’s fourth attempt was disqualified and he decided to sit out on the last attempt. In his final throw, the 24-year-old hit the 80.04m mark.
Jakud Wadlejch was second and Curitz Thompson third.
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