Now Reading: Neeraj Chopra throws season-best 88.05m at Lausanne Diamond League
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Neeraj Chopra throws season-best 88.05m at Lausanne Diamond League
Neeraj Chopra threw a season-best 88.05 metres at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday, finishing second by a narrow 9-centimetre margin to Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage. The Indian star's throw in the second round was his best performance since winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. Pathirage, 23, responded in the third round with 88.14m to take the top spot. Grenada's Anderson Peters was third with 86.69m.
Chopra, who won a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83m, has been recovering from an injury that delayed the start of his season. He trained at his base in Biel, Switzerland, with childhood coach Jaiveer Chaudhary and physio Ishan Marwah. With the Asian Games in Japan next month, where Chopra must defend his title, the 88.05m throw is a timely signal that his fitness issues are easing. He said he is happy with his comeback even though he aims for gold.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Neeraj Chopra's 88.05m is the best by an Indian javelin thrower this season but still well below his personal best of 89.94m and the 90m barrier that elite throwers routinely target. Rumesh Pathirage's 92m-plus throw in Rome this season shows the Asian Games field is stronger than ever. Chopra has not lost a major final since his Tokyo Olympic gold in 2021, but the margins are shrinking. The Diamond League final in Brussels next month will be his next test before Japan. Watch whether he can cross 89m there to confirm his peak form for the Asian Games.
At stake: Chopra's unbeaten streak in Asian Games finals, and India's best gold medal hope in athletics.
Source: aajtak.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
