Neeraj Chopra Starts Diamond League Season with Victory in Paris

PARIS: Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra inaugurated his 2025 Diamond League campaign with a triumph, securing the top spot with an impressive 88.16-meter throw at Stade Charlety this past Saturday.

This marked Chopra’s return to the French capital since 2017, where he had previously finished fifth as a junior athlete.

His initial attempt proved to be the decisive mark, establishing a strong precedent in a competition featuring some of the world’s elite athletes, including several who have achieved 90-meter throws.

Germany’s Julian Weber, considered Chopra’s main competitor this season, came close with a noteworthy 87.88m throw in the opening round but ultimately could not surpass the Indian champion.

Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva made a significant impact with a personal best of 86.62m, setting a new South American record and earning third place.

Chopra’s subsequent throw was measured at 85.10m, while his following three tries were recorded as fouls. He concluded his series with an 82.89m throw.

Former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada achieved a best of only 80.29m, finishing fifth, while Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago took fourth place with a throw of 81.66m.

This victory represents Chopra’s first Diamond League title since 2022 and continues his positive momentum in the 2025 season.

He commenced the year by winning the Potch Invitational in South Africa with an 84.52m throw and gained further attention in Doha by surpassing the 90m mark with a 90.23m throw, although Weber narrowly surpassed him with a personal best of 91.06m.

The Paris event was the eighth stage in the 2025 Diamond League series, which will culminate in a two-day final held in Zurich this August.