Brussels Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra is up against defending champion Jakub Vadlejch and Paris Olympics bronze medalist Andersen Peters
Last Updated: 04.26 PM, Sep 14, 2024
India’s golden boy in men’s javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, is competing in the Diamond League 2024 final in Brussels, along with 6 other finalists. The final is likely to be Chopra’s last competitive event for the year, as he is expected to seek medical attention for a persistent groin injury that has been hampering his performance in the last couple of years.
Chopra won the Diamond Trophy in 2022, becoming the first Indian to achieve the feat. Three-time winner Jakub Vadlejch, who is the defending champion, is in the final, as also Paris Olympics bronze medallist Andersen Peters, the only finalist to have registered a 90-m plus throw this season. At the Lausanne Diamond League, he came up with a 90.61m throw, that edged Chopra to second position.
The Indian star, meanwhile is yet to breach the 90-m mark, but has got tantalisingly close. In Lausanne, he threw 89.49m, although his career best came at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond league, with 89.94m. All eyes will be on Chopra when he takes the field for the men’s javelin throw event on September 14. The event is expected to begin closer to midnight, with an estimated start time at 11.52 pm. Fans can tune in to JioCinema to catch the event live.
2024 Olympic champion and record holder, Nadeem Arshad did not qualify for the javelin throw final, ending at 8th position on the overall points table. He has not participated in any of the Diamond League events since his Olympic record-breaking feat.
There are 15 Diamond League events, including the Brussels final, with the top 8 athletes awarded points. The top 7 athletes on the points table will qualify for the final, but the trophy and prize money go to the winner of the Brussels event.