India’s golden boy of athletics, Neeraj Chopra, once again showcased his dominance on the global stage by clinching the Paris Diamond League title on Friday with a sensational first-round throw of 88.16 metres.
The reigning Olympic champion wasted no time making his mark, soaring to the top of the leaderboard with his very first attempt. Despite scoring no valid throws in three of his six tries, Chopra’s opening effort remained unchallenged in a fiercely contested event. Germany’s Julian Weber followed close behind with an 87.88m throw to claim second place, while Brazil’s Mauricio Luiz da Silva secured third with 86.62m.
First-round brilliance seals victory
Chopra’s monstrous first throw set the tone for the entire competition. Weber narrowed the gap in the second round with 86.20m, and Chopra followed up with a solid 85.10m. Olympic medallist Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago managed 81.66m as other top contenders struggled to match the Indian star’s explosive start.
In the third round, Da Silva surged into podium contention with his best throw of 86.62m. Despite their best efforts, none of the athletes could surpass Chopra’s benchmark of 88.16m. Weber’s last attempts of 83.13m, 84.50m, and 81.08m failed to displace the champion, and Chopra, after a few fouls, ended his series with a safe throw of 82.89m.
With this triumph, Neeraj Chopra reaffirms his status as a global powerhouse in athletics and heads into the next phase of his season on a winning note. Fans can look forward to his next appearance at the Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5, an event named in his honour. The competition had originally been scheduled for May 24 but was postponed due to heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border.
(With inputs from ANI)
