Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra reaffirmed his status as one of the world’s leading javelin throwers by winning the Paris Diamond League 2024 title with a sensational first-round throw of 88.16 metres on Friday night.
Chopra seized the lead with his very first attempt and maintained it throughout the event, despite recording three no-marks in the middle rounds. His opening effort proved unassailable as neither Germany’s Julian Weber nor Brazil’s Mauricio Luiz da Silva could surpass the mark.
Weber came closest with a second-best throw of 87.88m, earning him the silver, while Da Silva secured bronze with a best of 86.62m.
In the early rounds:
- 1st round: Chopra led with 88.16m, followed by Weber (87.88m) and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (80.94m).
- 2nd round: Weber managed 86.20m, while Chopra registered 85.10m and Walcott improved slightly.
- 3rd round: Da Silva joined the podium chase with his 86.62m throw.
Although Weber launched attempts of 83.13m and 84.50m in the fourth and fifth rounds respectively, he was unable to breach Chopra’s opening distance. Neeraj returned in the final round with a solid 82.89m to close out his victory, while Weber and Da Silva wrapped up with 81.08m and 78.56m, respectively.
The win is another high point in Chopra’s remarkable career, adding to his Olympic and World Championship medals. He is next scheduled to compete at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5, an event initially set for May 24 but postponed due to cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.
With this commanding performance, Neeraj Chopra continues to build strong momentum ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he is seen as one of India’s brightest medal hopes.