Neeraj Chopra misses Diamond League crown by 1cm as Anderson Peters walks away with bragging rights

For one last time in the 2024 season, Neeraj Chopra took centre stage, at the World Diamond League Final held in Brussels. After an exceptional year that saw him shine at numerous international events, Chopra was determined to finish the season on a high, despite battling a nagging groin injury. Competing against elite javelin throwers like Julian Weber and Anderson Peters, he delivered a strong performance, securing a second-place finish to cap off his remarkable season.

Chopra's 2024 campaign had been impressive. He started the year with a second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League, throwing a mighty 88.35m. He followed that up with a victory at the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar, where he recorded a throw of 82.27m. At the Paavo Nurmi Games, Neeraj took first place with a throw of 85.97m. He also topped the qualification round of the Paris Olympics with a season-best of 89.34m, before clinching silver in the final with a throw of 89.45m, bettering his season’s best. He further improved that mark at the Lausanne Diamond League, finishing second with yet another season’s-best throw of 89.49m.

Heading into the World Diamond League Final, Chopra's goal was clear: to push through his recent injury setbacks and end the season on a strong note. Known for his strategic approach, he typically conserves his energy in the early rounds, reserving his best throws for the final attempts. However, his groin injury, which has troubled him during his run-up in recent tournaments, continued to limit his top performances.

In the first round, Peters set the bar high with a massive 87.87m throw, which ultimately secured him the top spot. Chopra responded with a solid 86.82m throw, jumping straight to second place. While he showed flashes of brilliance, his recent injury seemed to hinder his ability to consistently go beyond the 85m mark.

Chopra improved his distance in the third round, delivering his best throw of the day at 87.86m, just a centimeter shy of Peters’ leading mark. In the subsequent rounds, he managed throws of 83.30m and 86.46m but remained in second place throughout the competition.