'Everything Will Be Different In Tokyo': Neeraj Chopra Eyes Redemption After DL Runner-Up Finish

Last Updated:August 29, 2025, 08:04 IST

Neeraj Chopra finished second to Julian Weber in the Diamond League Final for the third year, but eyes World Championships in Tokyo, aiming to defend his title and win gold.

Neeraj Chopra in action (X)

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra had to settle for runner-up spot in the Diamond League Final for the third consecutive year, as Germany’s Julian Weber produced a commanding performance with two 90m-plus throws to claim his maiden trophy on Thursday.

Chopra’s evening in Eugene was far from his best. The 27-year-old opened with an 84.35m throw, placing him third for most of the competition. After several inconsistent attempts, he finally managed an 85.01m throw in the sixth and final round, lifting him past Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (84.95m) into second place.

However, Chopra had just three legal throws from six attempts and never truly found his rhythm. Known for his consistency in surpassing the 88m mark, the reigning world champion looked out of sync with his run-up and timing.

“I still managed in the last attempt over 85m throw," Chopra reflected after the competition. “But the timing was not so good today. The run-up was not so good. There is something I didn’t find today."

Not Dwelling on Defeat

Despite finishing behind Weber — who threw 90.21m and 90.88m to underline his dominance — Chopra chose to see the positives.

“This was not too bad. But we are getting very close to the World Championships, so I still need to throw a little bit further," he said.

He admitted the Diamond League Final was “a hard day," but added: “In this sport, we do not know. It depends on the day."

Chopra has now been runner-up in the Diamond League Finals three years in a row — 2023, 2024, and 2025 — after last winning the trophy in 2022.

“Everything Will Be Different in Tokyo"

Looking ahead, Chopra underlined that his focus is now firmly on defending his title at the World Championships in Tokyo (September 13–21).

“Julian is a good friend of mine, and I am always happy when he is doing well. We push each other," he said, before turning his attention to the task ahead.

“There will be some friends from India coming to cheer for me in Tokyo. I have some friends who live there too. At major championships, the gold is more important than the far throws. So I will try my best to win the medal. Everything will be different in Tokyo."

(with PTI inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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First Published:

August 29, 2025, 08:04 IST

News sports 'Everything Will Be Different In Tokyo': Neeraj Chopra Eyes Redemption After DL Runner-Up Finish

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