Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
If the Commonwealth Games was seen as progress for Neeraj Chopra, then the Lausanne Diamond League can be viewed as a statement and a step in the right direction for the Indian ace. Neeraj produced his season-best throw of 88.05 m to finish second at the Lausanne Diamond League.
Once again, it was Rumesh Pathirage who continued his fine form to clinch the top spot with a throw of 88.14m. Grenada’s Anderson Pieters finished third with a season-best performance of 86.69m ahead of Keshorn Walcott in fourth.
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LAUSANNE DIAMOND LEAGUE HIGHLIGHTS
This will serve as a great preparation for the Indian ace as he looks to defend his Asian Games crown in Japan next month.
A DIFFERENT NEERAJ ON DISPLAY
“Although we always want the National anthem to play, I did my season’s best and the comeback is going okay. There are other competitions as well. I am happy.”
These were the words of Neeraj right after winning the silver medal at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. While we don’t often celebrate silvers in our country, it truly felt like a moment of jubiliance for the fans of the javelin star.
For months, he was struggling with injury and a lot of changes to his coaching staff also happened. He went back to his roots and decided to find a new way to return to the top.
On Friday, we saw a different side to Neeraj. The Indian ace wasn’t content with finishing second and was pushing for the top prize. He started the day with an 83.54m throw after Pathirage set the benchmark with his first attempt of 85.99.
From that moment, it felt like the battle for the top spot was going to be between the two South Asians in Lausanne.
Pieters then produced a stunning throw to send Neeraj down to third for a bit, and the fans would have been wondering if it was going to be one of the nights of despair. Pathirage had already extended his lead and all eyes were on Neeraj.
And then, he just summoned power into his right hand and produced a stunner that allowed him to take the lead and put the pressure back on his Sri Lankan counterpart. This looked like the Neeraj of old, who was ready to bounce back quickly and show why he was at the top of the game for many years. The trademark roar was also back from the Indian ace. It was also the first time since June 2025 that he registered a throw of 88-plus.
A great aspect to see was Neeraj maintaining his balance during his best throws and not falling over on the left. Pathirage ended up regaining the lead, and Neeraj’s best attempts may not have mattered at the very end. But it was good to see that Neeraj of the old was returning.
He said after his effort that he felt very relaxed while going for the big throw. But most importantly, felt he was slowly getting his groove back.
“I didn’t realise it was only nine centimetres, it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-metre throw. To be honest, it didnt feel like it went 88 metres because I felt very relaxed. I tried really hard and later focused on my technique. With every competition, I feel that I’m coming back,” said Neeraj.
With the Zurich Diamond League coming up next on August 27, followed by the Diamond League finals in Brussels, it is a great chance for Neeraj to be back to his best. Add to this, the Ultimate Athletics Championships from September 11-13 and we may have a fit and firing Indian ace to defend his Asian crown.
PATHIRAGE CONTINUES DOMINANCE
In the end, the margin was just nine centimetres between Pathirage and Neeraj, but it seems like the Sri Lankan’s era of dominance was just beginning. The reason to believe that Neeraj’s Asian Games crown could be under jeopardy is how the one-time cricketer just dominated the field.
Pathirage has now made it three wins in a row against India’s Neeraj Chopra in 2026. The 23-year-old Sri Lankan thrower first finished ahead of the two-time Olympic medallist at the Doha Diamond League before repeating the feat at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Pathirage emerged victorious on both occasions, while Chopra had to settle for fourth place in Doha and silver in Glasgow. His latest win over the Indian star in Lausanne extends that impressive head-to-head run.
With each attempt, Pathirage continued to show his fine technique. There wasn’t a single throw that was below the 86 m mark at the very start and it just blew away the rest of the competition. Much like how Neeraj responded, Pathirage quickly answered back to regain the lead.
But the biggest thing to see was the consistency and sheer power that the 23-year-old is now showing. He continues to be the runaway leader in the Diamond League at the moment and favourite to win the whole thing.
At the same time, he showed his humility by just cheering for Neeraj at the very end and making sure that the Indian ace received the motivation he needed. That’s the hallmark of a champion, who isn’t ready to lose control of his grip over the sport just yet.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
