Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra will look to cap off his season on Thursday as he competes to reclaim the prestigious Diamond League trophy in the men's javelin final in Zurich. The Indian superstar, who last won the coveted title in 2022 before finishing as the runner-up in the last two editions, is one of the top contenders in the winner-takes-all event.
Chopra enters the final on the back of a strong season, the highlight of which was his 90.23m throw at the Doha Diamond League leg in May. The 27-year-old reigning world champion has been in dominant form, winning four of the six competitions he has participated in this year. He strategically competed in just two of the four qualifying meets, winning the Paris leg and securing his spot in the final comfortably.
The path to the title will not be easy, as Chopra faces a field of world-class throwers. The main challengers include the defending Diamond League champion from Grenada, Anderson Peters, and Germany's world leader, Julian Weber, who edged out Chopra for the top spot in Doha. The elite field also features 2012 Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott and former world champion Julius Yego.
The Diamond League Final is the pinnacle of the global one-day athletics series. It's a "winner-takes-all" competition where the victor in each of the 32 disciplines is crowned the ultimate champion for the season. Along with the iconic Diamond Trophy, the winner of the men's javelin final will also take home USD 30,000 in prize money.
For fans in India, the men's javelin final is scheduled to begin at 11:15 PM IST on Thursday, August 28. While there will be no television broadcast in India, the event will be streamed live on the official Diamond League YouTube and Facebook pages, allowing fans to tune in and support Chopra as he goes for glory.