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Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin superstar, has had a season of near misses, culminating in a second-place finish at the 2024 Diamond League final. Despite his consistent performances, Chopra has narrowly missed out on top honors throughout the season.At the Kuortane Games 2021, Chopra's last finish outside the top two, he has since secured a string of podium finishes. However, his 2024 campaign has been marked by a series of second-place finishes, including the Paris Olympics, Doha Diamond League, and Lausanne Diamond League.In the Diamond League final, Chopra produced a best throw of 87.86m, falling short of Anderson Peters' winning throw by a mere 0.01m. Peters, making a comeback after an injury, claimed the Diamond Trophy with an 87.87m throw.Despite his narrow miss, Chopra earned USD 12,000 (INR 10.06 lakh) in the grand finale of the Diamond League series. He finished the season with 14 points, securing fourth place in the overall standings.Chopra's consistent performances have earned him over INR 20 lakh in prize money from the Diamond League series. However, he did not receive any cash incentive for his silver medal at the Paris Olympics, as cash rewards were only given to Olympic champions.Despite his near misses, Chopra remains a formidable force in javelin throwing. His determination and resilience are a testament to his unwavering pursuit of excellence. As he looks ahead to the 2028 Summer Games, Chopra will undoubtedly be aiming to convert his silver into gold and add to India's Olympic medal tally.

India's javelin throw sensation Neeraj Chopra has secured his spot in the prestigious Diamond League season finale, scheduled for September 14-15 in Brussels. Despite battling a persistent groin injury, Chopra's impressive performances throughout the season have earned him a place among the top four athletes in the overall standings.Chopra's journey to the Diamond League finale began with a second-place finish in Doha, where he threw 89.30m. He replicated this feat in Lausanne, finishing behind Grenada's Anderson Peters with a throw of 89.08m. These performances earned him 14 points, placing him fourth in the overall standings.The 26-year-old Haryana-born athlete has been grappling with a groin injury since before the Tokyo Olympics, which has hindered his pursuit of the elusive 90m mark. Despite this setback, Chopra has remained determined to overcome his physical challenges and regain his peak form.In the recently concluded Zurich meet, Peters emerged victorious with a throw of 90.61m, while German star Julian Weber finished second. Chopra opted to skip this meet to prioritize his recovery and preparation for the Diamond League finale.Chopra's participation in the Diamond League finale holds significant importance as the winner of each event is awarded a prestigious "Diamond Trophy," a cash prize of USD 30,000, and a wild card for the World Athletics Championships.The Indian javelin thrower has a strong track record in the Diamond League, having won the Lausanne leg in 2022 and 2023. He also finished second to Jakub Vadlejch in the winner-takes-all finale in Eugene, USA, last year.Chopra's immediate focus is on addressing his groin injury and regaining full fitness. He has expressed his determination to improve his technique and push the boundaries of his performance in the upcoming season.

The Lausanne Diamond League meeting, scheduled for Thursday, will witness a star-studded lineup featuring 18 Olympic and world champions. Among them are Armand Duplantis, Letsile Tebogo, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who will headline the event.Duplantis, the reigning Olympic pole vault champion, will participate in a City Event on Wednesday before the main competition. The Swede, who recently broke his own world record with a jump of 6.25 meters, will face off against American Sam Kendricks and French legend Renaud Lavillenie.Tebogo, the Olympic 200m champion from Botswana, will race against Fred Kerley and Erriyon Knighton. The 21-year-old set an African record of 19.46 seconds in Paris, becoming the first African to win the Olympic 200m.The men's 800m promises to be a thrilling contest, with four Olympic finalists set to compete. Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the Olympic champion and third-fastest man in history, will face Marco Arop, Bryce Hoppel, and Mohamed Attaoui.Ingebrigtsen, the Olympic 5,000m champion, will seek redemption in the 1500m after a disappointing performance in Paris. He will face Cole Hocker, who upset Ingebrigtsen in the Olympic final.The women's high jump will feature Yaroslava Mahuchikh, who set a world record of 2.10m at the Paris Diamond League meet. She will be challenged by Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, the silver and bronze medalists from Paris.Femke Bol, the Olympic bronze medalist in the 400m hurdles, will also compete in Lausanne.

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has embarked on a journey to Germany to seek medical advice regarding a potential surgery for his persistent groin injury. The decision comes after Chopra's impressive silver medal performance at the Paris Olympics, where he showcased his resilience despite the nagging injury.Sources close to Chopra's family have confirmed his departure to Germany, where he is expected to remain for at least a month. The 26-year-old athlete had previously expressed his intention to consult doctors after the Olympics to address his injury, which has hindered his performance in recent months.Chopra's injury woes began in 2023 when he won the World Championships while carrying the groin injury. Prior to the Paris Olympics, he took a break of over a month due to an adductor muscle niggle. Despite the setbacks, Chopra remained determined to compete in Paris, where he delivered a season's best throw of 89.45m to secure a silver medal.During the Olympics, Chopra expressed his desire to participate in the Diamond League Final in Brussels, Belgium, on September 14. However, his participation hinges on his recovery and whether he can compete in at least one Diamond League Meeting before the final.Chopra's team, including his coach and physiotherapist, will assess his condition and make a decision on his participation in the Diamond League Meetings. The athlete has previously consulted a doctor in Germany regarding his injury and underwent a short training stint in Saarbrucken before the Olympics.If Chopra misses both the Lausanne and Zurich Diamond League Meetings, he may miss out on a top-six finish in the DL Meetings series, which would prevent him from competing in the DL Final.Chopra's injury has been a significant concern for the Indian athlete, who has hinted at the possibility of undergoing surgery to address the issue. He has stated that the injury has affected his focus and performance, with 60-70% of his attention being diverted to managing the pain.

Jessica Hull's world record-breaking performance in the women's 2,000m at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco has sent shockwaves through the athletics world. The Australian shattered the previous record by almost two seconds, clocking in at an astonishing 5 minutes and 19.70 seconds.Hull's dominance was evident from the outset as she closely followed the pacemakers through the first 1,000m. With the trackside lights indicating world record pace, Hull remained focused and determined. As the second pacemaker stepped aside, Hull took over the lead and faced the daunting task of running against the clock.Undeterred, Hull surged ahead, leaving the lights behind as she entered the final bend. With the crowd cheering her on, she crossed the finish line in a time that will forever be etched in the history books."It was incredible," said Hull. "When I was on my own on the last lap, everyone was cheering for me. I was just looking at the lights, hoping they wouldn't catch me."Hull's achievement is a testament to her hard work and dedication. "There are for sure some women who can run that 5:19, but for now I have my place in the history books," she added.Meanwhile, Algeria's Djamel Sedjati made history in the men's 800m, breaking the Diamond League record with a time of 1:41.46. This performance places him as the third-fastest 800m runner in history.In the men's 1,500m, Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen continued his pursuit of a record time, improving his European record to 3:26.73.Hull's world record and the impressive performances by Sedjati and Ingebrigtsen have set the stage for an exciting lead-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The ninth meet of the 2024 Diamond League, held at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille, Monaco, served as a thrilling prelude to the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. With several Paris 2024-bound athletes competing in 14 Diamond disciplines, the event showcased some of the world's top track and field stars.The highlight of the meet was the men's 400-meter hurdles event, which featured a clash of the titans. World record holder Karsten Warholm (Norway), 2022 Diamond League champion Alison dos Santos (Brazil), and 2023 Diamond League champion Rai Benjamin (United States) battled it out in an eight-man field. The three athletes have clocked the 15 fastest times in the discipline's history and met for the first time since the 2023 Diamond League final, where Benjamin emerged victorious.Other notable performances included Tokyo 2020 men's 1500-meter gold medalist Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway), who competed in the 800-meter event. Tokyo 2020 men's 110-meter hurdles gold medalist Hansle Parchment (Jamaica) also took part in the 110-meter hurdles. In the women's events, 2019 Diamond League women's 100-meter winner Dina Asher-Smith (Great Britain) competed in the 200-meter race.The Diamond League 2024 featured a wide range of disciplines, including high jump, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 110m hurdles, 400m hurdles, javelin throw, pole vault, triple jump, 100m, 400m, 2000m, and 5000m.The event was a testament to the high level of competition and excitement that fans can expect at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. With just a few days to go before the mega event, the Diamond League provided a glimpse of the thrilling performances that are in store.

Avinash Sable, India's steeplechase star, has shattered his own national record in the 3000m steeplechase at the prestigious Diamond League meet in Paris. Clocking an impressive 8 minutes and 9.91 seconds, Sable finished sixth in the race, but his performance marked a significant milestone in his preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics.Sable's previous national record of 8:11.20, set in 2022, was eclipsed by approximately one and a half seconds. The Ethiopian Abrham Sime emerged victorious with a personal best of 8:02.36, followed by Amos Serem of Kenya with the same time. Abraham Kibiwot of Kenya, the reigning World Championships bronze medalist, secured third place with a time of 8:06.70.This record-breaking performance marks Sable's return to his dominant form, having set his previous national record at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. It is the 10th national record for Sable, who hails from a humble farming family in Maharashtra.Despite a challenging season with limited races, Sable has shown remarkable improvement, reducing his best time by approximately 12 seconds. He had previously struggled in the 3000m steeplechase, clocking 8:21.85 in Portland and 8:31.75 in Panchkula.Sable's determination to make amends for past mistakes and deliver a memorable performance at the Paris Olympics is evident in his recent performances. He has adopted a different approach this season, focusing on peaking at the right time.In the men's javelin throw, Olympics-bound Kishore Jena faced challenges, finishing eighth with a throw of 78.10m. Despite his personal best of 87.54m and season best of 80.84m, Jena has had a disappointing season, with efforts below his potential.Reigning Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra opted out of the meet due to an adductor niggle that has been troubling him. Julian Weber of Germany claimed the top spot with a throw of 85.91m, while former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic finished second and third, respectively.

Indian athletes Avinash Sable and Kishore Jena are set to participate in the Paris leg of the Diamond League on Sunday, aiming to refine their preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics.Sable, a renowned 3000m steeplechaser, has had a modest season thus far, competing in only two events. However, he is determined to rectify past errors and deliver a strong performance at the Olympics. He will face stiff competition from Kenyan Abraham Kibiwot, the reigning World Championships bronze medalist.Jena, a javelin thrower, has also endured a challenging season, but he is eager to improve upon his recent performances. He will compete against a formidable field that includes Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Jakub Vadlejch and reigning Commonwealth Games medalist Arshad Nadeem.Despite their recent struggles, both Sable and Jena are confident in their abilities and are eager to acclimatize to the conditions in Paris, the host city of the Olympics. Athletics competitions at the Games commence on August 1st.Sable, who has a personal best of 8:11.20 in the 3000m steeplechase, is determined to make amends for his past disappointments. He believes that a different approach will lead to a memorable performance at the Olympics.Jena, with a personal best of 87.54m in the javelin throw, is also optimistic about his chances. He has been managing a minor ankle injury but is confident that it will not hinder his performance.The Paris Diamond League will provide Sable and Jena with a valuable opportunity to test their skills against world-class competition and gain valuable experience ahead of the Olympics.

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has set his sights on victory in the next Diamond League meeting after finishing a close second in the Doha leg.Chopra's second-place finish in Doha was a mere two centimeters behind Jakub Vadlejch's winning throw of 88.38m. The 26-year-old Chopra trailed the veteran Czech throughout the competition, but his final effort of 88.36m fell just short of the top spot.Despite the narrow margin, Chopra remained upbeat and expressed his determination to improve in the next meeting. "The most important competition for me this year is the Paris Olympics, but Diamond League meetings are important too," Chopra said. "This was the opener for me this season, I finished second with a narrow two-centimeter margin, but next time I will try to draw far and try to win."The next Diamond League meeting featuring men's javelin will be held in Paris on July 7. Chopra also expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the Indian diaspora in Qatar. "The support I am getting from the Indian people here in Qatar is always amazing," he said. "There aren't words enough for me to thank them for their support."Chopra's performance in Doha was a promising start to his season, and he will be looking to build on it in the upcoming meetings. The top six javelin throwers will compete in the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on September 13-14, and Chopra will be aiming to lift the DL champion's trophy.