New Delhi, Aug 2026 : India's two-time Olympic medallist and javelin star Neeraj Chopra has secured qualification for the Diamond League Final after finishing sixth in the overall standings at the conclusion of the Zurich Diamond League leg.
Chopra accumulated 12 points from just two appearances in the Diamond League season. The Indian star missed three legs, including the Zurich meeting, but his points tally was sufficient to secure a place in the season-ending final in Brussels.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage emerged victorious in Zurich with an impressive throw of 92.07 metres. Anderson Peters finished second with 86.93m, while Czech Republic's Dawid Wegner took third place with a throw of 85.16m.
Chopra opted out of the Zurich meeting after competing in only two Diamond League events this season. Earlier this month, he featured in the Lausanne Diamond League, where he produced an impressive throw of 88.05m to finish second behind Pathirage.
His first Diamond League appearance of the season came in Doha, where he finished fourth with a throw of 85.69m. The performance marked his return to competitive action following a back injury that affected his campaign last year.
Chopra has endured a challenging period with injuries while continuing to compete at the highest level. The Indian athlete, who created history by becoming the country's first Olympic athletics gold medallist at the Tokyo Games, also claimed a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a throw of 85.83m, finishing behind Pathirage.
Reflecting on the difficulties he has faced over the past year, Chopra opened up about his struggles following his silver-medal performance at the Glasgow Games.
“There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey,” Chopra wrote in an Instagram post. “The past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected.”
With qualification now secured, Chopra will turn his attention to the Diamond League Final in Brussels, scheduled for September 4 and 5. The Indian star will be aiming to end the season on a high and add another major achievement to his illustrious career.
Chopra has already tasted success in the prestigious competition, winning the Diamond League Final in 2022 with a throw of 88.44m. That triumph made him the first Indian athlete to win a Diamond League title.
He came close to defending the crown in 2023, finishing runner-up with a throw of 83.80m as Czech star Jakub Vadlejch claimed the title. Chopra again finished second in the 2024 and 2025 finals.
The Brussels final will therefore provide Chopra with another opportunity to reclaim the Diamond League crown. Despite limited appearances this season and his recent injury setbacks, his qualification underlines his consistency and standing among the world's leading javelin throwers.
