India’s golden boy in athletics, Neeraj Chopra, narrowly missed out on clinching the Diamond League Trophy in a nail-biting final in Brussels. The javelin throw final saw a close battle between Neeraj and his longtime rival, Anderson Peters of Grenada. Peters edged past Neeraj by a heartbreaking margin of just 1 centimeter, securing the title with a throw of 87.87 meters. Neeraj’s best throw of the night was 87.86 meters, putting him in second place and leaving him just short of reclaiming the Diamond League title for the second time in his career.
Tight Contest from the First Throw
From the very first throw, it was clear that the battle for the title was going to be intense. Neeraj had been aiming for a strong comeback after his performance in the Lausanne Diamond League last month, where he finished second. He had thrown 89.45 meters there, which was his best performance of the season. However, Neeraj had struggled with consistency in that event, with five out of his six throws being fouls.
In Brussels, Neeraj started strongly, showing his champion mindset. He was up against seven other contenders, with Anderson Peters taking the lead early on with his first throw of 87.87 meters. Neeraj immediately followed, securing second place with a throw of 86.82 meters. The competition between the two javelin giants continued, with Neeraj improving in his third attempt, reaching 87.86 meters – just 1 centimeter shy of overtaking Peters.
Neeraj’s Struggle to Find Rhythm
Though Neeraj came close, his subsequent attempts couldn’t surpass Peters’ best throw. His second throw measured 83.49 meters, and his fourth was 82.04 meters. On the other hand, Peters remained consistent, throwing beyond 85 meters in all his attempts. Neeraj’s fifth throw reached only 83.30 meters, and he couldn’t find that extra push to claim the top spot.
Despite giving it his all, Neeraj couldn’t convert his efforts into a win. This small margin of defeat marked the end of his 2024 season without a major title, as he had to settle for second place once again.
A Challenging Year for Neeraj
This year has been tough for Neeraj, who is used to dominating the global stage. His performances in 2024 saw him finishing second in every major competition. Earlier in the season, Neeraj participated in two Diamond League meets—first in Doha, where he threw 88.36 meters, and then in Lausanne, where he achieved 89.45 meters, his best throw this year. Despite these strong efforts, victory remained elusive.
In addition to these competitions, Neeraj also finished second in the Paris Olympics, winning a silver medal with a throw of 89.45 meters. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem took the gold with an incredible 92.97-meter throw, further adding to Neeraj’s string of near misses this season.
Looking Back at Neeraj’s Diamond League Success
Neeraj had previously won the prestigious Diamond League Trophy in 2022, becoming the first Indian athlete to achieve this feat. In that final, held in Zurich, Neeraj secured victory with a throw of 88.44 meters. However, in 2023, he couldn’t replicate the success, finishing second behind Jakub Vadleich of the Czech Republic.
Though 2024 has been a year of tough competition for Neeraj, his resilience and determination continue to inspire millions, as he remains one of India’s brightest stars in athletics. Fans eagerly await his return to form in the upcoming seasons.
