Neeraj Chopra set for star-studded javelin clash at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra will compete in the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21 against a world-class javelin field led by Commonwealth Games champion Rumesh Pathirage. The meet marks Chopra's third event since returning from injury as he builds momentum for the remainder of the season

New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will compete in the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21 against a star-studded men’s javelin field featuring recently crowned Commonwealth Games champion and world leader Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka, among others.

The event will feature five participants from the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, which concluded on Sunday.

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Chopra, who won silver in Glasgow with a season-best throw of 85.83m in his second meet after returning from injury, will face Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, former Olympic champion Thomas Röhler of Germany and Pathirage.

The field will also include Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic, Germany’s Julian Weber, Switzerland’s Simon Wieland and American Curtis Thompson, the world No. 2 this season.

“The five javelin superstars who have won the last four editions of the Olympic Games and World Championships will be present at Athletissima on August 21 for a competition of extraordinary quality,” the organisers said.

The Lausanne meet will be Chopra’s third competition since returning from a lower-back injury that sidelined him in September last year.

The 28-year-old opened his season with an 85.69m effort to finish fourth at the Doha Diamond League in June before improving to 85.83m to claim silver at the Commonwealth Games.

“Although we always want the national anthem to play, I achieved my season’s best and the comeback is going well. There are other competitions as well. I am happy,” Chopra had said after winning silver in Glasgow.

Chopra finished runner-up at the Lausanne Diamond League in 2024 with a career fourth-best throw of 89.49m, having won the title in 2022 with an 89.08m effort.

Pathirage heads to Lausanne in red-hot form after winning the Commonwealth Games title with 89.75m.

The Sri Lankan has a personal best of 92.62m, achieved at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome in June this year, making him the only thrower to breach the 90m mark this season.