In a thrilling display of athletic prowess, Indian javelin thrower
Chopra, 28, achieved his season's best throw during the second round, marking a significant improvement since his last notable performance of 88.16 meters at the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. The Lausanne meet featured a competitive field, with Grenada's Anderson Peters finishing third with a throw of 86.69 meters. Trinidad and Tobago's reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott secured fourth place with a best throw of 83.71 meters, while the USA's Curtis Thompson and Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch finished sixth and seventh, respectively, with throws of 78.13 meters and 77.32 meters.
Chopra Reflects on Close Contest
After the event, Chopra expressed his satisfaction with his performance, acknowledging the close contest with Pathirage. "I didn’t realize it was only nine centimeters; it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-meter throw," he remarked. He noted that despite the distance, he felt relaxed during his throw, attributing his success to a focus on technique. Chopra's performance in Lausanne has propelled him into the top five of the season-ending
As the Diamond League season progresses, Chopra and Pathirage are set to face off again in Zurich on August 27, where another javelin event will take place. Pathirage has been on a remarkable winning streak, having previously defeated Chopra in both the Doha Diamond League and the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where he secured gold with a throw of 89.75 meters. This season, Pathirage has dominated the circuit, winning eight out of nine competitions, including a season-leading throw of 92.62 meters in Rome.
Chopra's Comeback Journey
Chopra's journey this season has been marked by resilience as he continues to recover from a lower back injury that sidelined him since September of the previous year. Although he has not yet returned to his peak form, he remains optimistic about his progress. "I can’t say my fitness is there like before, but I’m getting there slowly," he stated during the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. With the Asian Games approaching next month, Chopra's focus will be on maintaining his health while striving for further improvements in his performance.
