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India's javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra finished as the runner-up in the Diamond League 2025 final while Germany's Julian Weber emerged victorious with a gigantic throw of 91.51 metres at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland on Friday, August 29. Notably, it was 26th consecutive event since the Tokyo Olympics, where Neeraj finished in the Top 2. Such is the consistency of the Tokyo gold medallist.
Neeraj Chopra second best in Diamond League final, Julian Weber emerges victorious
Neeraj Chopra began his performance with a throw of 84.35m. His second attempt was shorter at 82m, and his next three throws were fouls. But little did anyone know that the javelin superstar is saving the best for the last. He pulled off an 85.01m throw in the sixth attempt to grab the coveted second spot. However, the night belonged to Julian Weber. In a stunning performance, Germany's Julian Weber dominated the field to win the Diamond League title. He started strong, setting a new personal best and world lead with a throw of 91.37m on his very first attempt. He then outdid himself on his second throw, launching the javelin 91.51m to secure the victory. Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott finished second with a best throw of 84.95m.
In the Zurich Diamond League final, Julian Weber brought the same impressive energy that had previously overshadowed Neeraj Chopra in Doha. On his very first throw, the German unleashed a stunning 91.37m, instantly setting a new world-leading mark and putting immense pressure on the rest of the field. Meanwhile, Neeraj opened with a throw of 84.35m, placing him in third after the first round. Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad also started strong, taking second place with an impressive 84.95m. The reigning champion, Anderson Peters, had a disappointing start with a throw of only 81.06m.
The second round saw even more drama. Weber, already in the lead, extended his dominance with a massive 91.51m on his next attempt, thrilling the crowd and increasing the pressure on Chopra. Under this mounting pressure, Neeraj's second throw was a flat 82m. His slower run-up and visible frustration hinted at the stress he was feeling. The third round brought an unexpected turn, as both Weber and Chopra, the two main contenders, registered fouls. However, with two throws over 91m already on the board, the frustration was far greater for Neeraj than it was for Weber.
The fourth round brought some hope for the other competitors. Julian Weber, looking relaxed after his dominant start, recorded a throw of 83.66m. However, the momentary opening was quickly closed as Neeraj Chopra failed to find his rhythm, launching his javelin for another foul. The mounting frustration was visible, and the pressure on the Indian star was immense.
The stakes grew even higher in the fifth round. While Weber landed another solid throw of 86m and Keshorn Walcott maintained his second-place position, Neeraj registered his third consecutive foul. With winning now a distant dream, he faced the real possibility of finishing outside the top two for the first time in 25 competitions since the 2021 Kuortane Games.
However, in a moment of trademark resolve, Neeraj delivered when it mattered most. On his sixth and final throw, he found his mark, launching the javelin 85.01m. This effort was just enough to push him past Walcott's best throw of 84.95m, securing the runner-up position. With Walcott managing only 78.30m on his final attempt, Neeraj extended his remarkable four-year streak of finishing in the top two.
Ultimately, the night belonged to Julian Weber, whose early dominance put the title out of reach for everyone else. For Neeraj, it was a performance of frustration salvaged by a final, clutch throw. With the World Championships approaching and rivals like Weber and Arshad Nadeem in top form, the Indian ace knows he must quickly rediscover his rhythm.
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