Neeraj Chopra’s best throw reached 87.86 meters, falling just one centimeter short of Anderson Peters’ winning throw of 87.87 meters.
India’s Neeraj Chopra secured second place at the Diamond League Final on Saturday, September 14, narrowly missing the top spot to Grenada’s Anderson Peters in the men’s javelin event.
Competing at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Neeraj’s best throw reached 87.86 meters, falling just one centimeter short of Peters’ winning throw of 87.87 meters. This victory marked Peters’ resurgence in the 2024 season, earning him the coveted Diamond Trophy.
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Germany’s Julian Weber claimed third place with a throw of 85.97 meters, while Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and reigning Diamond Trophy holder Jakub Vadlejch did not participate in the competition.
Neeraj, who has now finished runner-up in the Diamond League for two consecutive years, previously lost the 2023 title to the Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch. In that event, Chopra’s throw of 83.80 meters was outdone by Vadlejch’s winning effort of 84.24 meters.
Despite improving his performance this year, Neeraj fell just short of overtaking Peters on Saturday.
Neeraj’s Performance in Brussels
Neeraj started strong with an initial throw of 86.82 meters, positioning him just behind Peters’ first throw of 87.87 meters. Although Neeraj’s second throw measured 83.49 meters, he made a significant comeback in his third attempt, reaching 87.86 meters, which put him just 0.01 meters shy of Peters.
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The competition between Neeraj and Peters was tight, with only Germany’s Julian Weber coming close with his first throw of 85.97 meters. However, Weber’s subsequent attempts fell short, and he gradually faded from the competition with throws of 82.61 meters, 82.15 meters, and 81.46 meters.
Neeraj, who had been nursing a groin injury throughout the season, appeared cautious at times, potentially limiting his ability to push beyond Peters. His final two throws measured 83.30 meters and 86.46 meters, but he was unable to surpass Peters’ best.
Peters, on his final attempt, matched Neeraj’s best throw of 87.86 meters, solidifying his win by virtue of his earlier, slightly superior attempt.
Season Wrap-Up for Neeraj Chopra
Neeraj Chopra, who secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics with a remarkable throw of 89.45 meters, concluded his season in Brussels. He now plans to consult with medical experts to determine whether surgery is necessary for his persistent groin injury. Despite not hitting his season-best in the Diamond League Final, Neeraj’s consistent top-tier performances continue to solidify his status as one of the world’s elite javelin throwers.
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