Sachin Yadav to Debut at Rome Diamond League Amid Neeraj Chopra's Absence

Sachin Yadav is gearing up for his debut at the Diamond League in Rome on June 4, while Neeraj Chopra will not be competing. This marks a significant moment for Yadav, who aims to build on his previous successes. The competition will feature top athletes, including former champions. Meanwhile, Parul Chaudhary is set to participate in the Shanghai Diamond League, adding to the excitement of the athletics season. Both athletes are looking to gain valuable experience ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. Read on for more insights into their upcoming challenges.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 13, 2026, 02:25 IST

Sachin Yadav's Upcoming Diamond League Debut

New Delhi [India] - On June 4, Sachin Yadav is poised to make his debut in the prestigious Diamond League during the Rome leg of the series, while two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra will not be participating.

Currently training and rehabilitating in Turkiye, Neeraj has not yet commenced his 2026 season. His last competitive appearance was in September at the Tokyo World Championships, where he finished eighth despite battling a back injury, as reported by Olympics.com.

With Neeraj absent, all eyes will be on Sachin Yadav, who is among eight competitors in the men's javelin throw event.

The 26-year-old athlete will be competing on the international stage for the first time since his impressive fourth-place finish at last year's World Championships, where he achieved a personal best throw of 86.27m, narrowly missing out on a medal. He also earned a silver medal at the Asian Championships last year.

At the Rome Diamond League, Sachin will face a formidable lineup, including former world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, Germany's Julian Weber, Rio 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler, and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch from Czechia.

Additionally, the competition will feature Curtis Thompson from the USA, Poland's Dawid Wegner, and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, who currently leads the world rankings this season.

Sachin has already kicked off his 2026 season domestically, securing second place at the Indian Athletics Series meet in New Delhi in April with a throw of 81.95m.

The men's javelin throw event is also set for the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco on May 31, although the entry list for that event has yet to be announced.

In another development, Indian middle-distance runner Parul Chaudhary, who holds national records in the women's 3000m, 5000m, and 3000m steeplechase, is gearing up for the steeplechase event at the Shanghai Diamond League on May 16.

This race will mark Parul's third appearance in the Diamond League. The reigning Asian Games 5000m champion previously finished 16th in Eugene in 2024 and sixth in Doha last year.

In Shanghai, she will compete against reigning world champion Faith Cherotich, former world champion Norah Jeruto, and former Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai.

The Shanghai leg will now kick off the 2026 Diamond League season after the Doha meet, originally set for May 8, was rescheduled to June 19.

Both Sachin and Parul aim to leverage their participation in the Diamond League to gain valuable experience against elite international athletes as they prepare for the challenging 2026 Asian Games.