India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has qualified for the final after finishing fourth in the overall points after 14 series of the Diamond League. The Diamond League finals will be held in Brussels on September 13 and 14. At the same time, the athletics season will also be concluded with this competition.
Neeraj finished second in the Doha and Lusana stages of the Diamond League. He scored a total of 14 points. He did not participate in the last series in Zurich. The 26-year-old Neeraj finished two points behind the third-placed Jakub Wadlech of the Czech Republic. Grenada’s Andersen Peters and German star Julian Weber rounded out the top two with 29 and 21 points respectively. Peters had overtaken Webber at the Zurich event.
Tokyo Olympics and Paris Olympics silver medalist Neeraj struggled with fitness this season. Haryana’s Neeraj Chopra has said that his back injury was bothering him even before the Olympics. So it is hindering him from reaching the 90-meter mark. Neeraj finished second behind Peters in the Lausanne leg of the Diamond League. Peters then threw 90.61m. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem won the gold medal in the Paris Olympics with a throw of 92.97 meters.
Neeraj Chopra needs to get back in shape
Talking about his plans last month, Neeraj said, “First of all I have to go to the doctor and get my back fully fit. I also need to work on my technique after which I will try to throw forward. Neeraj won the Lausanne stage of the Diamond League in 2022 and 2023.”
“Last year he finished second in the Diamond League finals played in Eugene, USA. The winner of the Diamond League final gets the coveted Diamond Trophy and a wild card for the World Athletics Championships. Neeraj will also conclude this season with this final round.”
