Neeraj Chopra Sets Sights on Victory at Lausanne Diamond League After Paris Olympics Silver

New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra is set to return to competitive action just two weeks after clinching a silver medal at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Indian javelin star will compete in the Lausanne Diamond League event in Switzerland, with the men’s javelin throw scheduled to start at 12:22 AM IST on August 23, 2024.

Chopra, widely recognized as one of India’s top athletes, is eager to demonstrate his capabilities once more following his recent Olympic performance. Despite securing a silver medal in Paris, Chopra expressed dissatisfaction with his performance and is determined to reassert his dominance in the javelin throw. Although Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic gold medallist who bested Chopra in Paris, will not be competing in Lausanne, the event will still feature a strong lineup, including Paris bronze medallist Anderson Peters, Jakub Vadlejch, and Julian Weber. The presence of these elite athletes promises a highly competitive event.

Chopra’s participation in Lausanne is part of a strategic approach adopted after the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. He and his team decided to continue their season and maintain rigorous training rather than returning to India immediately. Chopra has also revealed that he plans to seek medical advice regarding his ongoing groin injury once the Diamond League season concludes in September.

Reflecting on his Olympic experience, Chopra acknowledged that he was close to surpassing Nadeem. He pointed out that his two no-throws during the qualification and final rounds were actually among his second and third best throws of the season. He believes that overcoming his injury is essential for achieving greater distances and is frustrated by the current limitations imposed by his condition.

This appearance at the Lausanne Diamond League will mark Chopra’s second event in the Diamond League this season, following his second-place finish in Doha behind Vadlejch. Currently ranked fourth in the Diamond League standings, Chopra needs to secure a top-six finish to qualify for the season finale in Brussels on September 14. Another key Diamond League event is scheduled for September 5 in Zurich.

Event Details:

Date & Time: Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw event will commence at 12:22 AM IST on August 23, 2024.
TV Broadcast: The event will be broadcast live on Sports 18.
Live Streaming: Available on the JioCinema app and website.