Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin superstar, is gearing up for another momentous event at the Zurich Diamond League scheduled for August 31. This marks his first appearance in a Diamond League meeting as a world champion, following his historic gold medal win at the World Athletics Championships.
A Hat-Trick in Sight: Chopra's Diamond League Dominance
Neeraj Chopra is on a quest for his third consecutive Diamond League win this year, having already clinched victories in Doha in May and Lausanne in June. The 25-year-old athlete has been on a winning streak, securing the top spot in his last four Diamond League meetings. This includes last year's Diamond League final, where he became the first Indian to win the prestigious Diamond Trophy.
From Budapest to Zurich: A Quick Turnaround
After his monumental win in Budapest, where he clinched his maiden World Championships title with a throw of 88.17m, Chopra has headed to Zurich. He is accompanied by India's long jumper Murali Sreeshankar, who had a disappointing performance at the World Athletics Championships.
The Elite Competition: Who Will Challenge Chopra in Zurich?
In Zurich, Chopra will face stiff competition from familiar rivals. These include Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, who won bronze in Budapest with a throw of 86.67m, and Germany's Julian Weber. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada will also be in the fray. Notably absent from the line-up is Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, the silver medalist from Budapest.
Diamond League Standings: Where Does Chopra Stand?
Currently, Neeraj Chopra holds the third spot in the men's javelin Diamond League points table with 16 points. Vadlejch leads the table with 21 points, followed by Weber with 19 points. The top six in field events will qualify for the final at the end of the 14-series event.
When and Where To Watch the Javelin Event In Zurich Diamond League?
The men's javelin event in the Zurich Diamond League is scheduled to start at 12:12 am IST on September 1. The event will be live-streamed on Jio Cinema and covered on TV by Sports 18 in India.
A Pivotal Moment for Neeraj Chopra and Indian Athletics
As Neeraj Chopra prepares to compete in Zurich, the stakes are high not just for him but for Indian athletics as a whole. A win here would further solidify his status as one of the greatest javelin throwers in history, following in the footsteps of legends like Jan Zelezny and Andreas Thorkildsen.
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