Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic and world champion javelin thrower, displayed his resilience and determination at the season-opening Doha Diamond League. Despite facing challenging conditions, Chopra overcame a slow start to secure a second-place finish with a best throw of 88.36m.
Chopra’s first two attempts were underwhelming, but he gradually improved his performance. In his third attempt, he launched the javelin 86.24m, moving into second place. However, Czech thrower Jakub Vadlejch had set a high bar with his 88.38m effort in the third round.
Undeterred, Chopra continued to push himself. In his fifth attempt, he came close to Vadlejch’s mark with a throw of 86.18m. With one final attempt remaining, Chopra summoned his reserves of strength and unleashed a mighty throw that landed just two centimeters short of Vadlejch’s winning distance.
Despite the narrow margin, Chopra was satisfied with his performance. He acknowledged the challenging conditions and expressed his gratitude for the support of his team. Chopra’s second-place finish is a testament to his mental fortitude and his ability to perform under pressure.
The Doha Diamond League marked Chopra’s first competition of the 2024 season. He will now return to India for a brief visit before competing at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar next week. Chopra’s next major international competition will be the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland next month, where he is expected to face a stronger field.
