Diamond League 2024 event held at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, renowned javelin thrower and Olympic silver medalist Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed securing the Diamond Trophy title, finishing just one centimeter behind his competitor. He concluded the competition in second place, with his best throw measuring 87.86 meters. This performance placed him just behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who achieved a throw of 87.87 meters on his initial attempt. German athlete Julian Weber secured third place with a throw of 85.97 meters.
Neeraj Chopra, who previously won a gold medal in Tokyo and a silver in Paris, earned a prize of $12,000 for his second-place finish in this prestigious event. His performance continues to highlight his status as one of the leading figures in the sport of javelin throw. The competition was intense, showcasing the remarkable skills of the athletes involved, particularly in the final moments of the event.Anderson Peters, who claimed the Diamond Trophy for the first time, received a reward of $30,000 along with a wildcard entry for the upcoming World Athletics Championships. This victory marks a significant achievement in Peters’ career.In the Diamond League final, Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion, impressed everyone with an opening throw of 87.87 meters. Neeraj Chopra’s first attempt reached 86.82 meters, and he managed to throw 87.86 meters on his third try, matching Peters’ final throw. In his last chance during the sixth round, Neeraj fell short by just under one and a half meters.
Reports indicate that Neeraj Chopra has faced fitness challenges this season and intends to see a doctor regarding a lingering groin injury that has affected his performance and kept him from achieving throws over 90 meters. His best throw this season was 89.49 meters in August at Lausanne, which is the second-best of his career and slightly better than his silver-medal throw in Paris. Neeraj had previously won the Lausanne Diamond League events in both 2022 and 2023, and he finished second to Jakub Vadlejch in the decisive finale in Eugene, USA, in 2023.