India’s Neeraj Chopra took a commendable second place at the Lausanne Diamond League 2024 after making the astonishing throw of 89.49 meters to mark his season’s best performance. Though a little short of reaching the elusive mark of 90 meters, Chopra’s resilient show in the field only continued re-establishing him as one of the world’s top javelin throwers.
Massive Competition
The event was marked with strong competition from Anderson Peters of Grenada, who went on to take the gold at a meet-record 90.61 meters. Peters saved the best for last when he stunned everyone, including the crowd at the athletic field, with his monster final throw that catapulted him to top the leaderboard.
A Slow Start
The reigning World Champion, Neeraj Chopra was having a slow start to the competition, reaching 82.10 meters, 83.21 meters and 83.13 meters off his first three throws. This kept him in fourth behind Peters, Germany’s Julian Weber, Ukraine’s Artur Felfner, and Japan’s Roderick Dean Genki.
A Clutch Performance Under Pressure
Neeraj’s never-say-die attitude came to the fore as he further ramped up his game in the fifth round, with a solid throw of 85.58 meters. His clutch performance propelled him into the top three, keeping him in contention as the event reached its final stages.
Final Throws Decide the Winner
Peters went into the final round, making a season-best 90.61 meters to take the lead. Weber had been throwing well all through, however went short with his last attempt at 82.33 meters. Neeraj Chopra threw everything into the last throw and his javelin soared to 89.49 meters, his second-best ever, just short of that coveted 90-meter barrier.
Consistency and Grit Shine Through
While Neeraj Chopra could not clinch first place, his track record of finishing in the top two in international tournaments remained intact. Lausanne 2024 added yet another impressive chapter to the 26-year-old’s glittering career. His grit and determination under pressure ensured that it wouldn’t be an unpleasant memory for him or his fans.
The Sportz Planet Desk,
Atharva Shetye
