Did Neeraj Chopra Conquer the Paris Diamond League?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Neeraj Chopra secured victory with a throw of 88.16m.
- Julian Weber finished second, close behind Chopra.
- Luiz Maurício da Silva achieved a new South American record.
- This was Chopra's first Paris Diamond League appearance since 2017.
- Chopra continues to redefine Indian athletics on the global stage.
Paris, June 21 (NationPress) Neeraj Chopra, the double Olympic medalist, showcased an outstanding performance at the Paris Diamond League, securing the top position with an impressive 88.16m throw on his initial attempt at Stade Charléty on Saturday.
This remarkable opening throw set the standard for the competition and remained unbeatable throughout the event. Although he had three fouls in his six attempts, that early throw was sufficient to retain his lead in a fiercely competitive environment.
Germany's Julian Weber, a former Diamond League champion and one of Chopra's toughest challengers, came closest to him with a robust 87.88m throw in the first round. Despite a consistent performance, Weber could not surpass Chopra's mark and ended up in second place.
Brazil's Luiz Maurício da Silva achieved a career-best 86.62m throw in the third round, earning third place while also establishing a new South American record.
This event marked Chopra's first participation in the Paris Diamond League since 2017, where he finished fifth with a throw of 84.67m as a junior world champion. The Paris meet was the eighth leg of the 2025 Diamond League circuit, culminating in a two-day final in Zurich this upcoming August.
Chopra kicked off his 2025 season with a victory at the Potch Invitational in South Africa, throwing 84.52m. He made headlines in Doha by breaking the elusive 90m barrier for the first time, setting a new Indian national record with a throw of 90.23m—though he was narrowly surpassed by Weber's personal best of 91.06m.
The rivalry continued at Poland's Janusz Kusociński Memorial, where Weber again finished ahead with 86.12m compared to Chopra's 84.14m in challenging, wet conditions.
However, in Paris, Chopra regained his dominance and reminded the world of his status as one of the sport's most formidable athletes.
cs/aaa