Double Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra delivered a statement performance at the Paris Diamond League, seizing the top podium spot with a massive 88.16-meter throw on his very first attempt at Stade Charléty on Saturday.
The powerful opening throw set the tone for the evening and proved unassailable, despite Chopra recording three fouls in his six attempts. His commanding start gave him the edge in a field packed with top contenders.
Germany’s Julian Weber, a former Diamond League champion and one of Chopra’s fiercest competitors, came closest with a solid 87.88-meter effort, also in the opening round. Although consistent across the series, Weber couldn’t overcome Chopra’s early mark and settled for second place.
Brazil’s Luiz Maurício da Silva delivered a sensational career-best 86.62-meter throw in the third round, clinching third and setting a new South American record in the process.
This outing marked Chopra’s return to the Paris Diamond League after eight years—his last appearance was in 2017, when he finished fifth with a throw of 84.67 meters as a rising junior world champion. The Paris meet is the eighth stop on the 2025 Diamond League calendar, which will conclude with a high-stakes final in Zurich this August.
Chopra kicked off his 2025 season with a win at the Potch Invitational in South Africa (84.52m). He then made headlines in Doha, breaking the elusive 90-meter barrier for the first time in his career with a national record throw of 90.23 meters. However, in that event, he was narrowly edged out by Weber, who recorded a personal best of 91.06 meters.
The rivalry intensified in Poland at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial, where Weber again edged Chopra, throwing 86.12 meters to Chopra’s 84.14 meters in rainy and slippery conditions. But in Paris, Chopra once again rose to the occasion—reasserting his dominance and reminding the world why he remains one of the most formidable forces in javelin throw today.
