India's javelin superstar and two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, will be sitting out the final leg of the Diamond League series in Brussels, Belgium. His absence is strategic, as he has already comfortably secured his place in the Diamond League Finals scheduled for August 28 in Zurich, Switzerland. Neeraj has decided to take a break from competition to focus on his preparation for the all-important Diamond League grand finale.
Neeraj Chopra to skip Brussels leg of Diamond League
The men's javelin event is contested in only four of the 14 Diamond League meetings, and Chopra's dominant performances in just two of those were enough to guarantee his qualification, making his participation in Brussels unnecessary. This decision is in line with him also skipping the Silesia leg of the series on August 16.
The 27-year-old world champion has had a remarkable season. He made headlines in May at the Doha Diamond League by crossing the coveted 90-meter mark for the first time with a personal best throw of 90.23m, earning him a second-place finish. He followed this up with a victory at the Paris Diamond League in June, where he launched the javelin to a distance of 88.16m. Across six competitions this season, Chopra has been exceptionally consistent, claiming four victories and two second-place finishes, his most recent win coming at the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5.
With his qualification for the Zurich event secured, Chopra's focus now shifts to the major championships ahead. After competing in the Diamond League Final, his primary goal will be to defend his title at the World Championships in Tokyo, which will take place from September 13 to 21. The top six athletes in the standings after the Brussels leg will advance to the final in Zurich.
The Diamond League Final is a prestigious, winner-takes-all event where the victor of each discipline is crowned the champion. For the men's javelin winner on August 28, the rewards are significant: the iconic Diamond Trophy, $30,000 in prize money, and a wild card entry for the World Athletics Championships. The athletes finishing in second and third place will also be awarded $12,000 and $7,000, respectively.
For Neeraj, the upcoming Diamond League Final in Zurich is not just another competition as it represents a chance at redemption. While he memorably lifted the prestigious trophy in 2022, he has come frustratingly close in the subsequent years, narrowly missing out on the title in both 2023 and 2024 despite being in excellent form. Now armed with even greater consistency and valuable experience, the Indian superstar is determined to reclaim the Diamond League crown. A victory in Zurich would be a big achievement on its own, and it would also provide the perfect psychological momentum as he heads into the World Championships in Tokyo to defend his global title.