Neeraj Chopra and Avinash Sable Compete in Diamond League Final

Renowned javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to conclude another remarkable season as he competes in the Diamond League final. This highly anticipated event is scheduled to start at 11:52 PM IST, and it promises intense competition among the top performers of the season.

Having secured the trophy for the first time in 2022, Neeraj Chopra faced a challenging setback last year when he was bested by Jakub Vadlejch. This year, Chopra qualified for the final after achieving fourth place in the men’s javelin Diamond League standings, with notable second-place finishes in the Doha and Lausanne meets.

In Brussels, Chopra’s primary competition will come from Olympic bronze medalist Anderson Peters from Granada, who currently leads the standings with 29 points. Germany’s Julian Weber with 21 points and the defending champion Vadlejch from Czechia, who has 16 points, are also strong contenders.

Other participants on the start list, including Romania’s Andrian Mardare, Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean, and Ukraine’s Artur Felfner, will have to significantly enhance their performances to challenge the top contenders.

Throughout the season, Neeraj Chopra has shown impressive form, although his second-place finishes at key meets have been a source of frustration. In Lausanne, Chopra achieved the second farthest throw of his career with an impressive 89.49 meters, yet it was not enough to surpass a resurging Anderson Peters, who has returned to top form after a distressing incident last year.

Meanwhile, in the Diamond League final, India was represented by Avinash Sable in the 3000m steeplechase. Sable finished ninth at the King Baudouin Stadium, marking his debut in the Diamond League final. The race was won by Kenya’s Amos Serem, who clocked in at 8:06.90, while Moroccan champion Soufiane El Bakkali came second with a time of 8:08.60.

Avinash Sable, a national record holder, clocked a time of 8:17.09 in the final. Despite finishing outside of the top positions, Sable’s ranking allowed him to participate due to withdrawals from higher-ranked competitors.

As each Diamond League season concludes, winners are awarded a ‘Diamond Trophy’, a prize of USD 30,000, and a coveted wild card entry for the World Athletics Championships.