Neeraj Chopra takes field in Lausanne for Diamond League title

NEW DELHI: Two weeks after securing a historic silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra is set to resume competition at the Lausanne Diamond League meeting on Thursday.
His objective remains to lay the groundwork for reclaiming the Diamond League trophy at the season finale in Brussels on September 14th.
Chopra's journey to Lausanne comes on the heels of a gruelling Olympic campaign where he battled a persistent groin injury.
Despite the setback, the 26-year-old showcased his mettle, hurling the javelin to a distance of 89.45m to clinch silver, adding to his historic gold from the Tokyo Games.
The reigning Olympic champion's participation in Lausanne is confirmed, with a decision regarding potential surgery postponed until the season's end.
Chopra, the 2022 Diamond League champion, aims to improve upon last year's second-place finish behind Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch in the Eugene finale.
Currently ranked fourth in the Diamond League standings with seven points, Chopra needs to finish within the top six of the series to secure a spot in the Brussels finale.

Another opportunity to accumulate points presents itself at the Zurich Diamond League meeting on September 5th, which also features the men's javelin throw event.
Despite the injury concerns, Chopra, who commenced training in Switzerland following the Olympics, remains determined to conclude the season on a high note. He has been diligently managing the groin issue since his gold medal win at the World Championships in Budapest last year.
The Lausanne meeting hosts a fiercely competitive field, with five of the top six finishers from the Paris Olympic final set to participate.
Chopra will face stiff competition from the likes of Vadlejch, two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, and Germany's Julian Weber.
The only notable absentee is Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who stunned the world with a gold medal and a new Olympic record in Paris.