'Feeling Is Not Great': Neeraj Chopra Opens Up After Falling Short of 90m Again in Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra left no time to return to action as he appeared at the Lausanne Diamond League to improve his standings. Neeraj went toe-to-toe with elite players like Anderson Peters, Jakub Vadlejch, and more in Switzerland. Chopra put up his best-ever effort after coming fresh off the Olympics and winning the silver medal.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra finishes second in Lausanne Diamond League, again fails to breach 90m mark

Neeraj Chopra voices his thoughts after second-place finish at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra smacked a throw of 89.49 meters in his sixth and final throw at the Diamond League in Lausanne. His throw was much better than the one he made in Paris. But Anderson Peters came from behind to smack a 90.61, putting Neeraj in the second spot. India's golden boy missed out on the coveted 90m spot but managed to deliver his season-best performance while battling his groin injury. Neeraj expressed his thoughts after the event, saying he was content with the throw, but the feeling wasn't great at first.

"The feeling wasn't great at first, but I was happy with my throw, especially the second-best throw on my last attempt. It was a tough start, but the comeback was really nice and I enjoyed the fighting spirit I showed.

"Even though my early throws were around 80-83 meters, I pushed hard in the last two attempts, finishing strong. Competing at this high level, it's important to stay mentally tough and fight through," Neeraj Chopra said, as quoted by Diamond League.

Also Read: Sumit Antil Draws Inspiration from Neeraj Chopra, Determined to Compete Despite Minor Back Injury

Neeraj Chopra stood fourth in the Diamond League rankings before the fourth throw but picked up pace with his 85.58m shot in the fifth attempt. Since only the top three athletes are allowed a sixth attempt, the fifth shot helped him big-time. His final attempt of 89.49 has put him in the second place. This season's Diamond League finale will take place in Brussels, and Neeraj needs to be in the top six to be a part of the summit clash.

The next Diamond League meeting is set to take place in Zurich on September 5, 2024, and men's javelin will be a part of the multiple athletic events.