First Indian to win Diamond League title is Neeraj Chopra, 2022

Neeraj Chopra has finally done it yet again. He has created history on August 26, 2022, Olympic champion, the first Indian to win Diamond League event in Lausanne. He also made the cut for the World Athletics Championships 2023.

The 24-year-old javelin thrower, who won silver at the World Championships in the United States last month — a first for the country — opened with a remarkable 89.08m and ended up with the winning throw.

Last month, Neeraj competed in the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where he became the first Indian track and field athlete to win a silver medal. Due to fitness concerns, he did not compete in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, and he just made a comeback on Friday, setting a new record.

First Indian to win Diamond League

Chopra’s first throw of 89.09 metres, his third-best throw of all time, won him 8 points for first place. Chopra finished fourth with 15 points after competing in two Diamond Leagues (four events included the javelin throw). The top six athletes advance to the final.

Chopra’s second effort was 85.18 metres, but he fouled his third, fourth, and fifth. Chopra threw 80.04 metres in his final throw.

Chopra has been aiming for the 90-metre milestone, and it may only be a matter of time before he accomplishes it. The Zurich final will be his final opportunity this year, after which he will most likely terminate his season.

Chopra had missed the Commonwealth Games due to a groyne issue sustained during his fourth throw at the World Championships.

On September 7-8, the Diamond League Final will be held in Zurich, Switzerland.

Neeraj Chopra placed seventh out of eight finalists in the 2017 Diamond League Final with an 83.80m throw. Neeraj Chopra improved the following year but finished fourth with an 85.73m performance.