Golden boy of Indian athletics, Neeraj Chopra, is all set to showcase his prowess in the upcoming men's javelin event at the Zurich Diamond League on August 31. Alongside Neeraj, the renowned long jumper Murali Sreeshankar is also prepped to leave his mark at the prestigious Letzigrund stadium during this significant Diamond League meeting.
Neeraj, fresh off his monumental gold-winning feat at the World Championships in Budapest, will be making his third appearance in this Diamond League season, having previously displayed stellar performances in Doha and Lausanne. The Zurich challenge promises a thrilling contest as Neeraj squares off against global elites. Notably, Jakub Vadlejch, the world leader, Germany's Julian Weber, and Grenada's Anderson Peters are among the top contenders, even though Arshad Nadeem, the Budapest silver medalist from Pakistan, won't be competing.
Neeraj's historic 88.17m throw in Budapest made him the first-ever Indian to clinch a World Championships Gold. However, despite his soaring confidence levels, the 25-year-old has expressed concerns regarding an abductor injury. Neeraj mentioned, "Even after throwing 88.17m, I was wary of my adductor strain."
Currently, Neeraj holds the third position in the men's javelin Diamond League points table, bolstered by victories in Doha and Lausanne. With Vadlejch leading the table followed by Weber, the competition is fierce, and only the top 6 will make it to the final after the 14 series.
Switching focus to long jump, Murali Sreeshankar is eager to overcome his recent World Championships setback. Despite his commendable finish in 2022, where he secured the 7th position, his recent jumps in Budapest left many hopefuls crestfallen. However, holding the 3rd spot in the men's long jump standings, Sreeshankar remains a potent threat in Zurich.
Jeswin Aldrin, another notable name in Budapest, unfortunately, won't be joining the fray in Zurich.
In conclusion, the Zurich Diamond League promises nail-biting action with India's star athletes Neeraj Chopra and Murali Sreeshankar ready to make their nation proud once again.
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