Neeraj Chopra to compete in Lausanne Diamond League: Details
Neeraj Chopra, India's silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is set to return to action on August 22. He will participate in the Lausanne Diamond League event. "I have finally decided to participate in the Lausanne Diamond League," said Chopra as per The Economic Times. Chopra is preparing for the upcoming event with his coach Klaus Bartonietz and physio Ishaan Marwaha in Magglingen (Switzerland).
Chopra's performance and future plans
Despite not being in peak physical condition, Chopra was confident of outperforming Pakistan's gold medalist Arshad Nadeem at the Paris Olympics. However, his less-than-optimal health prevented him from doing so. He has previously expressed interest in competing in the Diamond League Final, scheduled for September 14 in Brussels (Belgium). To qualify for this event, he needs to participate in at least one DL Meeting — either Lausanne on August 22 or Zurich on September 5.
Team to assess his condition
The decision on whether Chopra will compete in the DL Meetings and the DL Final will be made by his coach and physio, based on his health. A family source confirmed this information. So far, Chopra has only participated in one Diamond League Meeting this year — on May 10 in Doha where he finished second.
Current standing and potential challenges
Chopra, who won the DL Trophy in 2022, is currently tied for fourth place with seven points in the DL Final points standings. The top six finishers in the DL Meetings series will compete in the DL Final. If he misses both Lausanne and Zurich events, he might not secure a top-six spot. This could potentially impact his chances of competing in Brussels on September 14.
Injury concerns and potential surgery
After securing a silver in the Olympics with a season's best throw of 89.45m, Chopra revealed that he might need surgery for a groin injury that has been bothering him for several years. He disclosed that when throwing, 60-70% of his focus was on managing the injury. His doctor had recommended surgery before last year's World Championships, but he postponed it due to the Paris Olympics.
