Neeraj Chopra first reaction to 3rd consecutive 2nd-place finish in Diamond League Finals: ‘Run-up was not good, need to throw further’

Javelin star Neeraj Chopra is his own biggest critic and after a third consecutive second-place finish in the Diamond League Finals, the two-time Olympic medallist was quick to admit that the level of his throwing is currently not close to what he would like it to be. While revealing the issues with his throws, Neeraj also analysed what he needs to win the big competitions.

An epitome of consistency, Neeraj either wins a competition or manages a runner-up position at least. But after coming second in the Diamond League Finals of 2023 and 2024, the Haryana athlete was hoping to recapture the title he first won in 2022.

However, it was not to be as his close friend Julian Weber of Germany stunned everyone with a brilliant first throw of 91.37m. On the next attempt, the 30-year-old scripted his personal best – a 91.57m, which won him the men’s javelin competition at the Diamond League Final 2025.

Neeraj, on the other hand, started his final with an 84.35m throw and fell to 82m on his second attempt. He fouled on the next three attempts and was third in the competition before scripting an 85.01m throw on his final attempt to take the second spot and edge past Keshorn Walcott (84.95m).

Neeraj admits failing to find rhythm in Zurich

Reflecting on losing the title by a good 6.5m, Neeraj admitted that he needs to start doing much better and revealed that he struggled to find his rhythm at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich, Switzerland.

“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,” Chopra said after the Diamond League Final 2025. “There were a few things that went well, but still, there were things that did not go that well. The run-up was not so good. There is something I didn’t find today.”

He also congratulated Weber and threw a challenge to him for the World Championships, which will take place in Tokyo next month.

“In the last attempt, I still managed to throw 85. But I am very happy for Julian today — he managed to throw really far, and to show 91m was really good. We will see in three weeks,” Chopra said.

The 27-year-old Neeraj ended by reassuring his fans that they will see a different avatar of him in the World Athletics Championships. “I still need to train a little bit. In this sport, we do not know. It depends on the day,” he added. “Everything will be different in Tokyo.”