The second-place finish helped Neeraj Chopra move into the top five of the Diamond League season standings
Published: August 22, 2026, 9:52 AM IST
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File photo of Neeraj Chopra(Credits: IANS)
Neeraj Chopra produced his best throw in more than a year but had to settle for the second spot after Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage continued his fine form and edged him by just nine centimetres at the Diamond League in Lausanne on Friday.
Chopra’s second effort of 88.05m was his best throw since the 88.16m he recorded while winning the Paris Diamond League in June last yearThe 28-year-old also registered his personal best for the on-going season which had briefly put him at the top of the standings but it wasn’t enough to keep him there.
In the very next round, Rumesh Pathirage responded with a powerful throwThe 23-year-old sent his javelin 88.14m to regain the lead and held on to it till the endGrenada’s Anderson Peters finished third with 86.69m in his sixth and final attempt.
NEERAJ CHOPRA FINISHED 2ND AT THE DIAMOND LEAGUE LAUSANNE! 💎
– Season Best throw of 88.05m 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/iKbpOS2Li7
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) August 21, 2026
Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott was fourth with 83.71m, while US thrower Curtis Thompson finished sixth with 78.13mTokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch was seventh with 77.32m.
The result marked Pathirage’s third straight win over Chopra this seasonThe Sri Lankan had earlier beaten the Indian in the Doha Diamond League and at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where Chopra finished second.
Chopra began the competition with 83.54m before producing his big throw of 88.05mHis third attempt went 83.72m, while he recorded a no mark in the fourth roundHe skipped his fifth attempt before ending with 82.15mThe 28-year-old said he was pleased with the throw despite missing out on the top spot.
“I didn’t realise it was only nine centimetres, it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-metre throw,” Chopra said“To be honest, it didn’t feel like it went 88m because I felt very relaxed,” Neeraj concluded.
The second-place finish also moved Chopra into the top five of the Diamond League season standingsThe top six in the men’s javelin standings qualify for the Diamond League Finals in Brussels on September 4 and 5.
Pathirage and Peters have already secured their places with 23 and 22 points respectivelyThe next Diamond League event featuring men’s javelin is in Zurich on August 27.
Chopra won the Diamond League Finals in 2022 and finished runner-up in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Pathirage has been in outstanding form this seasonHe has won the Doha and Rome Diamond League meetings and the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he threw 89.75mIn Rome, he produced a season-leading 92.62m, becoming one of the few throwers to cross 90m this yearHe has won eight of the nine competitions he has entered.
Chopra, meanwhile, is still working his way back after a lower-back injury that kept him out until the Doha Diamond LeagueHe was not fully fit in Glasgow but managed a silver with 85.83m.
“I’m getting there slowly,” Chopra had said after the Commonwealth Games.
His 88.05m in Lausanne will give him confidence as he prepares for the Asian Games next month and the Brussels DL in five days’ time.
