Neeraj Chopra finishes 2nd in Diamond League finals, Vadlejch wins

Olympic and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra failed to defend his Diamond League champion's title as he finished second with a modest performance of 83.80m here on Saturday.The 25-year-old Chopra struggled in the windy conditions in the grand finale at the Hayward Field as he fouled his two attempts. His best throw of the day came in the second attempt. His series read foul, 83.80m, 81.37m, foul, 80.74 and 80.90m.This was his first below 85m throw of the season. He had qualified for the DL Finals at the third spot. He had won the 2022 DL Finals in Zurich with a throw of 88.44m.
Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch ended as the Diamond League champion with a best throw of 84.24m, which came on his final attempt.The recently-crowned World champion failed to get going on first chance and got a no throw. His best effort came on the second try where he landed the javelin at 83.80m.The Czech athlete, and the bronze medallist from the Worlds this year, took the lead from the outset with a throw of 84.01m. He signed off in style by improving on the distance on the final try.Finland’s Oliver Helander got third place. Helander finished with a best of 83.74m, just six centimetres short of the Indian’s mark.Chopra will now be in action during the Asian Games in Hangzhou which commence on September 23.