Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra delivered a determined performance at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 22, securing second place with a season-best throw of 89.49 meters. Although just shy of the elusive 90-meter mark, Neeraj’s final attempt pushed him up the ranks, demonstrating his competitive spirit once again. Despite not being at his peak, Neeraj’s last throw earned him the runner-up spot behind Anderson Peters, who clinched first place with a record-breaking 90.61 meters.

Neeraj, who had won silver at the Paris Olympics, faced challenging conditions during the event. His first attempt measured 82.10 meters, placing him in fourth position at the end of the initial round. Anderson Peters set the pace early on with an impressive 86.36-meter throw, while Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch struggled and eventually finished seventh.

Neeraj improved slightly with his second attempt, recording 83.21 meters and re-entering the top three. Meanwhile, Peters raised the bar with an 88.49-meter throw, closely followed by Germany’s Julian Weber at 87.08 meters, as they began to distance themselves from the rest of the competition. Ukraine’s Artur Felfner also advanced, pushing Neeraj back to fourth.

Throughout the third and fourth rounds, Neeraj's performance remained underwhelming, with throws of 83.13 meters and 82.34 meters, respectively. However, he rallied in the fifth round with a throw of 85.58 meters, moving into the top three. Peters capped off his dominant showing by shattering the meeting record with a 90.61-meter throw. Neeraj responded with his best effort of the season at 89.49 meters, securing second place, while Julian Weber rounded out the podium in third.

This throw marked the second-best of Neeraj’s career, surpassing his 89.45-meter throw from the Paris Olympics earlier in the year. Lausanne has been a successful venue for Neeraj, who won the 2022 Diamond League there with a throw of 87.66 meters and topped the podium again in 2023 with 89.08 meters.

Neeraj’s second-place finish in Lausanne boosted him into the top three of the 2024 Diamond League standings, after previously ranking fourth with seven points following a second-place finish in Doha. Having won the Diamond Trophy in 2022 and finishing second in 2023, Neeraj is expected to compete in Zurich on September 5, ahead of the Diamond League final in Brussels on September 13-14.

Notably absent from the Lausanne competition was Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion. Neeraj, who won silver at the Paris Olympics with a best throw of 89.45 meters, had hoped to return to top form after being dethroned by Nadeem’s Olympic record throw of 92.97 meters.

Neeraj has been battling a persistent groin injury that affected his performance in the Olympics, where he managed just one legal throw out of six attempts. Initially planning a long break and considering surgery, Neeraj made an early return to action in Lausanne, postponing his decision on surgery until after the season.

Despite the challenges, Neeraj remains focused on reclaiming the Diamond Trophy and breaking the 90-meter barrier, which has become a personal goal. Reflecting on his performance, Neeraj emphasized the importance of staying consistent and pushing his limits.

With his sights set on the upcoming events, Neeraj Chopra is poised for another strong finish as he continues to represent India on the global stage.