'The timing was not so good': Neeraj Chopra vows Tokyo redemption after Diamond League setback

Neeraj Chopra vows Tokyo redemption after Diamond League setback.

Julian Weber of Germany put on a dominant display with two throws of 90 meters or more to win his first trophy on Thursday, forcing two-time Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra to settle for second place in the Diamond League Final for the third year in a row.

Chopra didn't have the nicest evening in Eugene. The 27-year-old finished third for the majority of the competition after starting with an 84.35-meter throw. He finally made an 85.01-meter throw in the sixth and final round, surpassing Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago (84.95-meter) to take second place after a number of erratic efforts.

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Chopra, however, never really established his rhythm and only managed three legal throws out of six attempts. The current world champion, who is renowned for routinely topping the 88-meter mark, appeared to be out of sync with his timing and run-up.

“I still managed in the last attempt over 85m throw," Chopra reflected after the competition. “But the timing was not so good today. The run-up was not so good. There is something I didn’t find today."

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Chopra decided to focus on the positives even if he finished behind Weber, who demonstrated his domination with throws of 90.21 and 90.88 meters.

“This was not too bad. But we are getting very close to the World Championships, so I still need to throw a little bit further," he said.

He admitted the Diamond League Final was “a hard day," but added: “In this sport, we do not know. It depends on the day."

After winning the title in 2022, Chopra has now finished second in the Diamond League Finals three times in a row (2023, 2024, and 2025).

Chopra emphasized that his primary priority going forward is on retaining his championship in the World Championships in Tokyo, which will take place from September 13 to 21.

“Julian is a good friend of mine, and I am always happy when he is doing well. We push each other," he said, before turning his attention to the task ahead.

“There will be some friends from India coming to cheer for me in Tokyo. I have some friends who live there too. At major championships, the gold is more important than the far throws. So I will try my best to win the medal. Everything will be different in Tokyo."