Neeraj Chopra will compete in a star-studded line-up on the Diamond League in Doha on Could 5, the place the Olympic champion will start his title defence. Chopra, the world championships silver medallist, will likely be joined by world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Olympic silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (CZE) in what guarantees to be a captivating showdown.
Chopra had a surprising season final 12 months, the place he gained silver on the world championships in Oregon, triumphed within the Diamond League, and set a brand new nationwide report of 89.94m. Nonetheless, the spotlight of the season was the superb consistency that noticed him throw the spear over 88m a number of occasions.
A 90m throw eluded him simply by a number of centimeters and it stays a objective that he will likely be chasing this 12 months too. In addition to, he will likely be aiming to grow to be a world champion, having completed second to Peters final season. There may be additionally the Asian Video games in September in a packed season of excessive prospects for Chopra.
“Whereas final 12 months was a very good 12 months for me with a brand new private greatest, world silver medal, and the win of the Wanda Diamond League, this 12 months brings new alternatives,” mentioned Chopra.
“My objective for this summer time is the World Championships, alongside the Asian Video games and the defence of my Wanda Diamond League title. I’m additionally getting nearer to the 90m mark, so it will imply so much for me to interrupt that barrier,” he added.
Having missed the Doha meet final 12 months, Chopra is keen to compete. Peters had a monstrous 93.07m throw in Doha final season which was the fifth-longest throw in historical past.
“I’m trying ahead to opening my Diamond League season alongside a gaggle of unimaginable athletes, in entrance of a passionate crowd,” mentioned Chopra.
In addition to Peters, Olympic silver medallist Vadlejch, European champion Julian Weber of Germany, former Olympic champion and Trinidad & Tobago nationwide report holder Keshorn Walcott (90.16m); and 2016 Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego — the Kenyan report holder (92.72m) — will compete at Qatar Sports activities Membership in Doha.
The Diamond League will likely be a significant occasion for Chopra and contemplating the significance he offers to the high-profile occasion he will likely be trying to go all out. The league is unfold throughout 14 conferences and javelin options in 5 of them — Doha, Lausanne, Monaco and Zurich earlier than it winds all the way down to Hayward Discipline in Eugene for the finale on September 16.
Every meet provides a prize cash of $10,000 for the winners whereas the champion will get a prize purse of $30,000. Final 12 months, Chopra’s nationwide report was additionally set in a Diamond League meet with a throw of 89.94m in Stockholm.
In comparison with final 12 months when he began his season late on June 14, Chopra is starting early this time and it’ll stretch longer because the postponed Asian Video games in Hangzhou is scheduled from September 23. He competed in six occasions final 12 months however missed the Commonwealth Video games having injured his groin in Eugene.
He will likely be trying to maintain himself injury-free contemplating that he may compete in additional occasions this season in a busy calendar. An important could be the world championships in Budapest on August 25 and Chopra will likely be eager to put on the tag of world champion. In Eugene, he overcame a modest begin by his personal requirements and bounced again, lastly along with his fourth throw (88.13m) surging forward to take second place.