Explained
Explained: How can Neeraj Chopra qualify for Diamond League final?
Everything that you need to know about Neeraj Chopra's qualification for the Diamond League final and how the points system works?
Neeraj Chopra in action at the men's javelin throw event at the Diamond League Final 2024. (Photo Credit: X)
Reigning World Champion Javelin Thrower Neeraj Chopra came up with an incredible throw in the last attempt at Lausanne Diamond League to finish second on Thursday.
Chopra threw his season-best of 89.49m after struggling through the night and finished second behind Anderson Peters of Grenada who won the meet with the best throw of 90.61m.
This was Neeraj's first event after he won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics earlier this month.
Neeraj started poorly with a throw of 82.10m in his first attempt and struggled to cross the 85m mark in the first four throws. However, he stepped up in the fifth throw with an 85.58m throw and improved it massively with his season best in the last throw.
With this second finish place, Neeraj has climbed up in the Diamond League final qualification table and has almost booked his berth for the Diamond League finale in Brussels next month.
As things stand, Neeraj is placed third in the overall Diamond League standings with 14 points and he is tied with German thrower Julian Weber.
Anderson Peters is at the top with 21 points and Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic is one second with 16 points. Both the athletes have booked their berth for the final to be held in Brussels.
What is the Diamond League points system and how it works?
Diamond League is a series of 14 athletics meetings throughout one season and the athletes are ranked based on their finishes. Javelin Throw is part of four meetings in a season.
Athletes are awarded 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 points for ranking 1st to 8th respectively.
After the four meetings, the top six athletes will qualify for the final meet at Brussels and will fight for the title of Diamond League. In track events top six make it to the final while in field event, top six go through.
Neeraj has two second-place finishes in the 2024 Diamond League series finishing second behind Jakub at the Doha Diamond League and now behind Anderson Peters.
With two second-place finishes, Neeraj has 14 points in total and looks more or less set to qualify for the final. Neeraj will have one last chance in the Zurich Diamond League to be held on September 5 to make the cut.
Previously, Neeraj won the Diamond League final once in 2022 at Zurich, and he finished second behind Jakub at the 2023 Eugene Diamond League final.
