A good performance in Lausanne could propel Neeraj Chopra into the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 7 and 8.
A good performance in Lausanne could propel Neeraj Chopra into the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 7 and 8.
Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, who has recovered from a minor back injury last month, is attending the Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, on August 26.
A good performance in Lausanne could propel Chopra into the Diamond League final in Zurich on September 7 and 8 as he is fourth in the standings. The top six in the standings will advance to the Zurich final. The Lausanne event is the last stage of the men’s javelin throw competition.
24-year-old Chopra Birmingham withdrew from the Commonwealth Games last month Due to an injury he suffered during the final of the World Championships in Eugene, US, on 24 July, where he won a historic silver,
He withdrew from the multi-sport event just two days before the Birmingham Commonwealth Games (28 July to 8 August) as he was advised four weeks’ rest by his medical team. After this he was resettled in Germany.
“Feeling strong and ready for Friday. Thanks for all the support. See you in Lausanne!” Chopra tweeted.
Chopra’s name appeared among the participants of the Lausanne leg after the organizers released the list on 17 August, but her appearance in the competition has been the subject of speculation due to injury.
Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla had said that Chopra would take part in Lausanne if he was “medically fit”.
fourth in the standings
After her second-place finish in the Stockholm leg – on the podium for the first time – on June 30, Chopra is fourth in the standings with seven points. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakob Vadlage of the Czech Republic is on top with 20 points, followed by Germany’s Julian Weber (19 points) and world champion Andersen Peters (16 points) of Grenada.
Earlier in the season, Chopra had said that he would like to do well in the Diamond Leg final.
A back injury may have hampered his preparations, but Chopra could be aiming for his maiden Diamond League title as the six-man field in Lausanne is not as strong as the Stockholm leg.
Peters is recovering from injury after being beaten up on a boat in his home country earlier this month. Vadlejch is in the fray and 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott is also struggling.
Chopra’s season best is 89.94m, while Vadledge’s season best is 90.88m and Walcott’s 89.07m.
This will be Chopra’s second competition at the Diamond League meet this season. Earlier, he had finished fourth in Zurich in August 2018.
He has participated in eight Diamond League meets so far – three in 2017, four in 2018 and one this year. He had two fourths, the second being in Doha in May 2018, when he threw 87.43m before taking second place in Stockholm.
The winner of each Diamond Discipline in the Finals will become the “Diamond League Champion” and will be awarded the Diamond Trophy, $30,000 in prize money and a wild card for the World Athletics Championships 2023.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games silver medalist Avinash Sable was one of the first participants in the men’s 3000m steeplechase but his name is no longer in the list.