Picture Credit: Twitter
India’s ‘Golden Boy’, Neeraj Chopra finished second in the Diamond League Final in Eugene on Saturday night. The 25-year-old’s best throw in the summit clash came in his second attempt (83.80m), but it wasn’t enough to surpass Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch’s throw of 84.24m.
The Indian athlete, who recently reigned at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, lifted his maiden Diamond League title in Zurich last year and thereafter had a successive year. Starting fifth in the six-man lineup, Neeraj Chopra’s first throw was disqualified while Jakub cleared the mark with an 84.01m throw.
However, his best at the finale, a throw of 83.80m came in his second attempt, to take his to the second place in the table. On the third attempt, the Indian athlete could only manage an 81.37m throw. While his fourth attempt went for a no-throw, his fifth attempt got him to 80.74m mark, followed by an 80.90m final throw, to finish in second place.
With this, while Neeraj finished second, Jakub Vadlejch finished at the top with a best throw of the night of 83.74m. Finland’s Oliver Helander took the third place with a throw of 83.74m.
Always tough competing with Neeraj Chopra: Jakub Vadlejch after winning Diamond League title
The 32-year-old piped Olympic gold medallist and World Athletics Champion by a whisker to clinch the title. The Czechia native however hailed his Indian opponent after his title triumph in Eugene. “It’s always tough competing with Neeraj, but victory is for me, very valuable. I’m still dreaming. I felt very well. It’s very difficult, especially in my age, I’m almost 33 years old, so it’s difficult but javelin throw is my life, so I love it,” Vadlejch added.
