Neeraj Chopra, India’s javelin superstar, has had a season of near misses, culminating in a second-place finish at the 2024 Diamond League final. Despite his consistent performances, Chopra has narrowly missed out on top honors throughout the season.
At the Kuortane Games 2021, Chopra’s last finish outside the top two, he has since secured a string of podium finishes. However, his 2024 campaign has been marked by a series of second-place finishes, including the Paris Olympics, Doha Diamond League, and Lausanne Diamond League.
In the Diamond League final, Chopra produced a best throw of 87.86m, falling short of Anderson Peters’ winning throw by a mere 0.01m. Peters, making a comeback after an injury, claimed the Diamond Trophy with an 87.87m throw.
Despite his narrow miss, Chopra earned USD 12,000 (INR 10.06 lakh) in the grand finale of the Diamond League series. He finished the season with 14 points, securing fourth place in the overall standings.
Chopra’s consistent performances have earned him over INR 20 lakh in prize money from the Diamond League series. However, he did not receive any cash incentive for his silver medal at the Paris Olympics, as cash rewards were only given to Olympic champions.
Despite his near misses, Chopra remains a formidable force in javelin throwing. His determination and resilience are a testament to his unwavering pursuit of excellence. As he looks ahead to the 2028 Summer Games, Chopra will undoubtedly be aiming to convert his silver into gold and add to India’s Olympic medal tally.
