Competing for the first time as Diamond League champion, star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will take on familiar foes in the first leg of the prestigious Meetings series on Friday as he aims to start the ‘long’ season with a strong performance. Is. The 25-year-old Chopra, also a 2022 World Championships silver-winner, faces the likes of world champion Anderson Peters of Granada and Tokyo Olympics silver-medallist Jakub Wadljech of the Czech Republic on a star-studded field at the Qatar Sports Club.
Chopra, who has a personal best and national record of 89.94m, had finished fourth with 87.43m in his only other participation at the Doha Diamond League in 2018. He was unable to take part here last year due to lack of “overall fitness and strength”.
Despite missing out on the Doha stage, Chopra went on to make one screenplay history after another last year. He became the first Indian Diamond League champion after winning the 2022 Grand Finale in Zurich in September. A month before that, he became the first Indian to win a Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.
Chopra said last month that he was feeling better physically and technically at the time, but winning the top prize at the season-opening Diamond League here won’t be easy given the incredible competition seen here. Last year.
Peters threw 93.07 m, the fifth longest throw in javelin history, just outside German Thomas Röhler’s 93.90 m, which was a meeting record in 2017.
Wadlejch, who finished second behind Chopra at the Tokyo Olympics to win a bronze medal at the 2022 World Championships, also set a personal record of 90.88m in his first throw over 90m here last year.
Along with the decorated trio, the Doha meet will also feature European champion Julian Weber of Germany, who has a personal best of 89.54m, 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago (PB 90.16m) and former world champion and 2016 Olympic silver Medal winners. Julius Yego (PB 92.72m) of Kenya.
“It’s my first competition of the season. It’s always good when you have good competitors,” Chopra said at the pre-event press conference.
“Wadlejch has already thrown 88.38m in Potchefstroom (South Africa, on April 18) so I think tomorrow will see great competition. Also, Doha is famous for 90m throws. So we’ll see, hopefully That tomorrow will be great results for everyone.” One of the goals for Chopra, the first Indian Olympic gold medalist in track and field, this year will be to cross the 90m mark, the gold standard in the javelin world, but will she make it to the Olympics? Can achieve this feat in his first competition. The season remains to be seen.
Last month, he said he would like to cross the coveted mark this year as well, though he is not putting himself under pressure to achieve the feat.
“Last year, I was just 6cm short of 90m. I hope to do the same this year but I will not put any pressure on myself. It is a magical mark and the 90m club is famous in the javelin world. I look forward to entering it.” Chopra said.
The Doha meet will also see 2022 Commonwealth Games triple jump champion Aldhoj Paul competing in a field that includes Tokyo Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo (PB 18.08m) of Portugal, Diamond League winner Andy Diaz Hernandez (17.07m) of Cuba and two others. Two-time Olympic gold-winner (2012 and 2016) and five-time world champion Christian Taylor (PB 18.21m) of USA.
With a personal best of 16.99m, it will be difficult for Paul to be on the podium in a top-class field. He won the gold medal at the Birmingham CWG with an air throw of 17.03m.
The Diamond League is the most prestigious track and field series, sitting at the top level of world athletics one-day competitions. The 2023 Diamond League comprises 13 meetings, starting with the Doha event leading up to the two-day Diamond League Finals in Eugene, USA on 16-17 September.
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