Athletics
Neeraj Chopra sheds runner-up tag; seizes Paris Diamond League title
'The Golden body' ended his 2-year wait for a Diamond League title.
Neeraj Chopra clinched the men's javelin throw title at the Paris Diamond League 2025. (Photo credit: Wanda Diamond League)
Indian star Neeraj Chopra delighted his fans with a midnight masterpiece, clinching the Paris Diamond League title on a late Friday evening, ending his quest for the coveted Diamond League title after two years.
Neeraj claimed the men's javelin throw title in Paris with a stunning 88.16m throw on his first attempt, narrowly outshining Germany's Julian Weber (87.88m), reversing his losses from their last two international clashes.
This was Neeraj's first major win since the Paavo Nurmi Games last year and a first Diamond League win after having six consecutive second-place finishes since the Laussane Diamond League 2023.
Neeraj Chopra, who made his Diamond League debut at the Stade Charléty Stadium, Paris in 2017, returned to the venue after eight long years, claiming his fifth win on the Diamond League circuit, including the Diamond League Final in 2022.
Victory on the opening throw
Neeraj Chopra began his competition in Paris with a massive throw of 88.16m, which was his second-best performance of the year, finishing the first end at the top of the standings, followed by Julian Weber (87.88m).
He could not improve his mark in the next two attempts, but was still leading the competition at the halfway mark, thanks to his impressive throw on the first attempt.
Neeraj continued to struggle a bit in the following attempts and made three consecutive foul throws. However, it did not hamper his chances, and he clinched the title despite not having one of his best days.
With this win, he earned eight Diamond League points from the meet and is now in joint top position with Weber in the season's diamond league standings with 15 points.
What's next
Neeraj has a busy schedule as he will be competing in two more meets in the next few weeks, starting with the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic on June 24th.
Later, he will return to India for the nation's first-ever Javelin-only International meet, scheduled to take place on July 5th in Bengaluru.
