India's star javelin thrower and two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra produced his best performance of the season in a spectacular comeback at the Diamond League (Athletissima) held in Lausanne, Switzerland. However, in a very exciting and close contest, he missed the first place by just 9 centimeters (0.09 m) and had to settle for second place. Sri Lanka's rising young sensation Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage topped the title with a throw of 88.14m.
Neeraj made a season best throw of 88.05 meters in the second round.
At the beginning of the competition, Neeraj made a throw of 83.54 meters in his first attempt. After this, in the second round itself, he showed tremendous rhythm and threw the spear. 88.05 meters Thrown at a distance.
It was his best throw of the season as well as his strongest individual performance in more than a year since winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. With this throw, Neeraj directly reached the top of the points table for some time.
Pathirage snatched the lead in the third round by throwing 88.14 meters.
Neeraj's lead could not be sustained for long. In the very next i.e. third round, 23 year old Sri Lankan athlete Rumesh Pathirage 88.14 meters He left Neeraj behind by throwing the javelin and took a decisive lead of 9 centimetres.
Neeraj made a throw of 83.72 meters in the third attempt. His attempt in the fourth round was fouled, while in the fifth round he missed the attempt. In the last sixth attempt, Neeraj could throw only 82.15 meters, due to which Pathirage became the winner and Neeraj got silver/second place. Grenada's Anderson Peters finished third with a throw of 86.69 metres.
'I didn't know there was a difference of only 9 cm': Neeraj Chopra
Commenting after the match, Neeraj Chopra said:
“I had no idea that the difference was only 9 cm, the competition was really very close. But I am very happy with the throw of 88 meters. To be honest, I did not feel that much while throwing because I was feeling very comfortable. With every competition I feel that my fitness and my old rhythm is coming back.”
Neeraj reached top-5 in Diamond League final race
Neeraj Chopra jumps from seventh place in the overall Diamond League standings after finishing second in Lausanne fifth place Have reached. After the Zurich Diamond League on August 27, the top-6 athletes will get direct entry into the season-ending Diamond League Finals to be held in Brussels on September 4-5, where Neeraj is very close to confirming his place.