Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra once again proved why he is rated so highly as he clinched the top spot for the second time in the season in Lausanne on Friday at the Diamond League. Despite struggling with injuries, he made a sensational comeback as his fifth-round throw of 87.66m was enough to earn him the victory. Chopra proved his mettle after beating Germany’s Julian Weber and the Czech Jakub Vadlejch.
The 25-year-old Chopra started with a foul throw and then went on to throw his spear for 83.52m and 85.04m throws. He once again had another foul in the fourth round before coming up with his 87.66m next. His sixth and final throw was 84.15m. Speaking after the event, Chopra said “I was feeling a bit nervous coming back from an injury. It was a bit cold here tonight. I am still far from my best, but I feel it is getting better. I am relieved it´s coming together well for me. A win is a win and I will take that happily.”
After Neeraj’s milestone, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to his official Twitter account to congratulate the javelin thrower.
He wrote, “Congratulations to @Neeraj_chopra1 for shining at the Lausanne Diamond League. Thanks to his extraordinary performances, he has finished at the top of the table. His talent, dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence is commendable.
Abhinav Bindra, who is the only man who won gold in an individual Olympic sport for India, also wished Chopra for his impeccable performance.
“A big shoutout to @Neeraj_chopra1 on his incredible victory at the Lausanne Diamond League! Your triumph is a testament to your unwavering resilience and determination, especially after coming back from injury”, he tweeted.