Neeraj Chopra extends streak to 26 despite Diamond League final setback

WEB DESK: Neeraj Chopra may not have walked away with the trophy in Zurich, but the Indian javelin superstar once again proved why he is the sport’s model of consistency. At the 2025 Diamond League Final in Letzigrund Stadium, Chopra finished second, stretching his remarkable streak of top-two finishes to 26—a run that has lasted since June 2021.

The two-time Olympic medallist endured a difficult evening, struggling with his run-up and rhythm. His campaign began with an 84.35m throw, followed by 82.00m. What followed was even more frustrating: three consecutive fouls. With pressure mounting, Chopra dug deep in his final attempt to send the spear soaring 85.01m, securing the runner-up spot by the narrowest of margins ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (84.95m).

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The night, however, belonged to Germany’s Julian Weber. The reigning European champion opened with a thunderous 91.37m and stretched it further to 91.57m on his second attempt, effectively sealing the competition early. His dominance brought him the title along with the $30,000 (₹26 lakh) winner’s purse. Chopra, with his gritty second place, earned $12,000 (₹10.5 lakh), while Walcott took home $7,000 (₹6.12 lakh).

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For Neeraj, the finish carried mixed emotions. He has not won a Diamond League title since 2022, and back-to-back runner-up spots in 2023 and 2024 had only heightened the hunger for redemption. Yet even on an off-day marked by inconsistency and fouls, the 27-year-old still managed to secure his place among the best—highlighting the resilience and discipline that have defined his career.

Neeraj’s streak of top-two finishes has encompassed his greatest triumphs: the historic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, a World Championship title in 2023, and silver at the Paris Games last year. The last time he finished outside the top two was at the Kourtane Classic in Finland, more than four years ago. Since then, no athlete in men’s javelin has been as consistent at the highest level.

With Zurich behind him, Neeraj now shifts his focus to the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month, a stage where he will once again seek to convert consistency into another global crown.