Neeraj Chopra Hits Season-Best, Misses Lausanne Diamond League Title By 9cm

Last Updated:August 22, 2026, 07:30 IST

Neeraj Chopra bags season’s best at Lausanne Diamond League, finishing second to Rumesh Pathirage. Chopra’s 88.05m throw highlights strong performance.

Neeraj Chopra competes in the javelin during the World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Lausanne (Picture credit: AP)

Double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra managed to deliver his season’s best performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday but fell agonisingly short of the top spot, as Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage finished first with a throw just nine centimetres more than his.

Chopra’s 88.05m throw in the second round, which earned him second place in the nine-man star-studded field, was his best effort since the 88.16m he produced while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025.

It was also Neeraj’s season’s best throw.

But the 23-year-old Pathirage continued his juggernaut this season as he overtook Chopra with his third-round throw of 88.14m.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters finished third with a best throw of 86.69m in his sixth and final attempt, while reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago took fourth with 83.71m.

World Championships bronze medallist Curtis Thompson of the USA finished sixth with a below-par 78.13m, while Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic was seventh with a best effort of 77.32m.

“I did not realise it was only nine centimetres; it was really close, but I am happy with the 88-metre throw. To be honest, it did not feel like it went 88m because I felt very relaxed,” Chopra said after the event.

“I tried really hard and later focused on my technique. With every competition, I feel that I am coming back. The crowds in Lausanne and Zurich understand athletics and really support you, so it is always good to compete here,” Chopra added.

With his second-place finish, Chopra also jumped to top-five in the season-ending Diamond League Finals standings from his earlier seventh spot.

For the jumps and throws, the top six athletes in the standings will qualify for the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4-5. One additional athlete in each discipline can also earn a spot through a national or global wildcard.

Key Questions Answered

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How does this result impact Neeraj Chopra’s world ranking?

A top-three finish in the Lausanne Diamond League could improve Neeraj Chopra’s world ranking.

What are the next major competitions for Neeraj Chopra?

Neeraj Chopra’s next major competition is the Diamond League Final in Brussels, scheduled for September 4-5, for which he has qualified. He is also currently in ninth place in the world rankings for the World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, which will take place from September 11 to 13.

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