A 4th place finish by Neeraj Chopra earns him a spot in the Diamond League finals

India’s celebrated javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medallist, Neeraj Chopra, has secured his spot in the upcoming Diamond League season finale, set to be held this month. Despite finishing fourth in the overall rankings after 14 Diamond League series events around the globe, Chopra’s performances were enough to qualify him for the prestigious two-day finale scheduled for September 14 and 15 in Brussels.

Chopra accumulated a total of 14 points through his second-place finishes in the Diamond League meets held in Doha and Lausanne. Notably, the 26-year-old skipped the final series event in Zurich on Thursday, yet his ranking held firm enough to earn him a place in the finale. Czech javelin thrower Jakub Vadlejch is currently ahead of Chopra in the standings by just two points. Meanwhile, Grenada’s Anderson Peters leads the rankings with 29 points, followed by Germany’s Julian Weber, who has accumulated 21 points. Peters emerged victorious in Zurich, surpassing Weber.

Chopra’s qualification for the finale comes at a time when he is dealing with ongoing fitness concerns. The star athlete, who clinched gold at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and added a silver medal to his collection at the Paris Olympics just last month, has been open about struggling with a persistent groin injury. The injury, which he has been battling since before the Tokyo Games, has hampered his pursuit of the elusive 90m throw mark.

In the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League this season, Chopra finished second, narrowly losing to Anderson Peters, who recorded a throw of 90.61m. At the Paris Olympics, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem took home the gold with an impressive 92.97m throw, leaving Chopra in the runner-up position.

Chopra has expressed his intention to prioritize his recovery, stating last month, “My first goal is to see the doctor and make sure my groin is fully healed. I will also work on improving my technique so I can throw farther next season.”

Despite his current struggles, Chopra’s track record in the Diamond League is notable. He won the Lausanne leg in both 2022 and 2023 and finished as runner-up in the 2022 finale in Eugene, USA, behind Vadlejch.

The Diamond League season finale is one of the most prestigious events in the athletics calendar. Winners are awarded the coveted “Diamond Trophy,” along with a USD 30,000 prize and a wildcard entry into the World Athletics Championships. For Chopra, the Brussels finale will mark the conclusion of his competitive season, giving him an opportunity to end on a high note despite the physical challenges he has faced this year.