Neeraj Chopra Secures Second Place at Diamond League Final in Zurich

Neeraj Chopra Continues Impressive Streak

World Champion and Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra maintained his remarkable record of finishing in the top two at competitions by clinching second place with a throw of 85.01 meters during the Diamond League final held in Zurich on Thursday.

The event was dominated by Germany's Julian Weber, who achieved a remarkable throw of 91.51 meters on his second attempt, showcasing his strength with two impressive throws exceeding 91 meters. Neeraj faced challenges early on, starting with two throws in the low 80s and three fouls, which put his streak at risk. However, he managed to secure his position with a final throw exceeding 85 meters, extending his top-two finishes to an impressive 26 consecutive events. Trinidad and Tobago's Keshorn Walcott, the 2012 London Olympics gold medalist, finished third with a throw of 84.95 meters.

Weber's Dominance in Zurich

Neeraj's initial throw measured 84.35 meters, while Julian Weber, the former European Champion, stunned the audience with a throw of 91.37 meters, taking the lead. Keshorn Walcott secured the second position with a throw of 84.95 meters.

Neeraj found himself in third place after the first round, with Anderson Peters in fourth (81.41 meters) and Julius Yego in fifth (80.49 meters). His second throw was disappointing at 82 meters, while Weber continued to impress with a throw of 91.51 meters in his second attempt, solidifying his lead.

Clutch Performance by Neeraj

Both Neeraj and Julian received no marks in their third attempts, but their standings remained unchanged. Neeraj's fourth throw was also a foul, putting his streak of top-two finishes in jeopardy. Weber managed to throw 83.66 meters in his fourth attempt, maintaining his lead, with Keshorn in second and Neeraj in third.

Neeraj's struggles continued with another foul in his fifth throw, further threatening his record. Weber's fifth throw reached 86.45 meters, keeping him at the top. Only Weber, Keshorn, and Neeraj had the opportunity for one final throw that could alter the standings.

Final Throws and Results

Neeraj's last throw of 85.01 meters secured him the second position, while Keshorn's final throw measured 78.05 meters, confirming Neeraj's place. Weber capped off his performance with a final throw of 88.66 meters.

Neeraj had previously won the Diamond League final in 2022 at the same venue, making history as the first Indian to do so, followed by two second-place finishes in 2023 and 2024.

Neeraj Chopra's Stellar 2025 Season

The Indian javelin star has had an outstanding 2025 season so far. He triumphed in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic at the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru last month, achieving a throw of 86.18 meters.

Neeraj began the season with a victory at the Potch Invitational in South Africa in April and followed it with a remarkable second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he surpassed the 90-meter mark for the first time with a throw of 90.23 meters.

Despite facing challenges, Neeraj has maintained his top-two streak, showcasing his legendary status in the sport. He also secured second place at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland and won titles at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike with throws of 88.16 meters and 85.29 meters, respectively.

Looking ahead, Neeraj aims to defend his world title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13-21, where he previously made history by winning gold.