Neeraj finishes 2nd, Pathirage wins title in Lausanne Diamond League

Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra produced his best performance in more than a year but was pipped to the post by the rising Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage for the top spot by a mere nine centimetres in the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Lausanne on Friday. The 28-year-old Chopra's 88.05m throw in the second round, which fetched him the second spot in the nine-man star-studded field, was his best after the 88.16m he recorded while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. It was also his season's best throw.

88.05 for Neeraj Chopra. And another silver in a diamond league event. Rumesh Pathirage threw 88.14 to clinch gold

At this rate, the man is g on my to produce a museum full of international medals by the end of his career.

Phenomenal. pic.twitter.com/JiBYoHeg8l

— Anand Datla (@SportASmile) August 21, 2026

However, the 23-year-old Pathirage continued his juggernaut this season as he overtook Chopra with his third-round throw of 88.14m. Grenada’s Anderson Peters was third with his sixth and final round effort of 86.69m.Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago was fourth with a best throw of 83.71m.
This was the third time in a row that the 23-year-old Pathirage had beaten two-time Olympic medallist Chopra this year. He had earlier beaten the Indian superstar in the Doha Diamond League and then in the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Pathirage had won in both the events while Chopra had finished fourth and second respectively.