India’s star javelin thrower, Neeraj Chopra, secured a second-place finish in the 2024 Diamond League final, just missing out on victory by a mere 0.01 meters. Competing at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Chopra achieved a best throw of 87.86 meters, only to be edged out by Anderson Peters, who made a stunning comeback with a winning throw of 87.87 meters. Despite the narrow miss, Chopra added yet another podium finish to his already stellar 2024 season, where he has frequently placed second.
Throughout 2024, Chopra has consistently been a top contender, finishing second in several prestigious events, including the Paris Olympics, the Doha Diamond League, and the Lausanne Diamond League. His performance in the Diamond League final earned him a prize of USD 12,000 (approximately INR 10.06 lakh), bringing his total earnings for the season to over INR 20 lakh.
Chopra’s impressive season also saw him clinch a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. In that event, he was outdone by Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, who set a world record with a throw of 92.97 meters to win gold. Though Neeraj did not receive a cash reward for his silver medal in Paris, his achievement places him among the few Indian athletes with consecutive Olympic medals, solidifying his place as one of the country’s most celebrated athletes.