Paris Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra wins the title after two years with a 88.16 meter throw

New Delhi (India) June 21: After finishing in second place twice in Paris, Neeraj Chopra defeated Julian Weber of Germany on Friday to win the Diamond League for the first time in two years.

In a strong field with five competitors who had thrown over 90 meters, Chopra won with an outstanding first-round throw of 88.16 meters. His next three throws were 85.10m, three fouls later, and a final throw of 82.89m.

Julian Weber grabbed second place with an opening performance of 87.88 meters and Luiz Mauricio Da Silva of Brazil finished third with a throw of 86.62 meters in the third round.

Neeraj Chopra expressed his satisfaction with the start of his competition. He attributed his impressive opening to a clean run-up and smooth rhythm. He did accept a few technical errors during the competition and pointed out that his body was leaning too far to the left and that he was breaking his flow by pushing his chest into the throw. After a long wait, he was satisfied to break through the 88-meter mark and return to the top of the podium.

He said, "Today I was really happy with the start because I had a really good run-up technique, and everything was perfect. However, I felt that my body was going too much to the left today. I was trying to go with the javelin with my chest, so my technique was not so good today. My run-up technique was perfect, and the first throw was really good to start with. I am very happy with 88 metres today and a win after such a long time in a Wanda Diamond League.”

Chopra also discussed the impact of Jan Zelezny, a famous javelin thrower who has been his coach. He added Zelezny was a source of contagious enthusiasm and that he had helped him improve his technique. He told him to take shorter, faster steps during the crossing phase instead of lengthier ones. Chopra claimed that working with Zelezny had improved his confidence and calmness.

He said, "Having Jan Zelezny around me makes me feel great about myself. When I am around him or when he coaches me, I feel very good. There is some positive energy about him, and everybody knows he was a great athlete who threw over 90 metres. Unlike other coaches who told me to take long steps when I start the crossing over, he said I can take shorter steps, but I have to do it in good speed. This is really good what I am already doing, but I need to focus on my technique when I throw.”

Chopra's last Diamond League victory came in June 2023 in Lausanne, where he threw 87.66 meters. He has previously placed second in six Diamond League tournaments before this win.

Chopra has won the Paris stage of the Diamond League for the first time. He last competed in Paris in 2017 as a junior world champion and was placed fifth with 84.67 meters.

On June 24, Chopra will compete in the Golden Spike athletics event in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The world champion will then host and participate in the first Neeraj Chopra Classic, a World Athletics category A competition, in Bengaluru on July 5.

Aadrika Tayal