Neeraj Chopra secures 2nd place in Diamond League Final
Indian ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra secured a commendable second place in the 2024 Diamond League Final held on September 14. The event took place at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, where Chopra was bested by Paris Olympics bronze medalist Anderson Peters. Despite a strong performance, Chopra's best throw of 87.86 meters fell just short of Peters's winning distance by one centimeter.
Chopra's performance in the Diamond League final
Chopra started off strong with an initial throw of 86.82 meters, trailing closely behind Peters's first throw of 87.87 meters. However, his second attempt fell short at 83.49 meters before rebounding in his third try with a mega throw of 87.86 meters. This put him just behind Peters by a mere 0.01 meter, keeping him in contention for the top spot throughout the event.
Chopra's final attempts and season challenges
Despite high expectations from Indian fans, Chopra's fourth attempt fell short at 82.04 meters. His final two throws registered distances of 83.30 meters and 86.46 meters respectively, leaving him in second place behind Peters. Throughout the season, Chopra has been dealing with a persistent groin issue that may require medical intervention at the end of this competitive period.
Chopra's season wrap-up and future prospects
The Diamond League Final marks the end of the season for Chopra, who also won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics with a throw of 89.45 meters. For his second-place finish in this event, he received $12,000 while Peters was awarded $30,000 and a wild card for the World Athletics Championships. Despite fitness struggles this season due to his groin injury, Chopra has demonstrated resilience and skill throughout his competitions.
