India’s Olympic gold medal-winning javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the Doha Diamond League by a margin of 0.04 metres. The 25-year-old posted a best throw of 88.67 metres, while the second-placed Jakub Vadlejch posted a best throw of 88.63 metres. Neeraj had won the Diamond Trophy last year.
Chopra hit his straps in his first attempt itself with a world-leading throw of 88.67m, which was his fourth career-best effort to position himself on the top of the pile. He maintained the lead till the end to win the event in his second appearance at the Qatar Sports Club.
Silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic went agonisingly close to Chopra’s best mark with a second-round throw of 88.63m, four centimeters short of the Indian’s effort.
Vadlejch had also won silver in the Tokyo Olympics. He had also won a silver in the Doha Diamond League last year with a 90.88m throw.
Reigning world champion Anderson Peters, who had won the Doha event last year with a monster throw of 93.07m, finished third with a modest best throw of 85.88m.
