Lausanne Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra finishes second, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage clinches title

Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra delivered his best throw in more than a year but narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing second at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on Friday (August 21). The 28-year-old Chopra produced a season-best throw of 88.05m in his second attempt, placing him second in the nine-athlete field. It was his best effort since he recorded 88.16m while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025.

However, Sri Lankan javelin thrower Rumesh Pathirage continued his impressive run this season, edging past Chopra with a third-round effort of 88.14m. The 23-year-old Pathirage's throw was enough to secure the top position, beating Chopra by just nine centimeters in a closely contested competition.

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At the Lausanne Diamond League, Neeraj Chopra opened his campaign with a throw of 83.54m, which left him behind Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage in the early standings. Chopra, however, produced a stunning second attempt of 88.05m to move into first place. The Indian javelin star celebrated the effort with his trademark roar as he surged ahead of Pathirage and Anderson Peters.

Pathirage responded strongly in his third attempt, reclaiming the lead with an 88.14m throw. Chopra could not match that effort, recording 83.72m in his third attempt and remaining in second place. The pressure increased in the fourth round when Chopra fouled, leaving him with just two attempts to overtake Pathirage. Chopra opted to pass on his fifth attempt, while Pathirage also registered a foul. As a result, the standings remained unchanged heading into the sixth and final round.

Chopra needed a big throw in his final attempt but could manage only a little over 82m. Pathirage held on to the lead and secured victory, leaving Chopra to settle for second place. The Lausanne meet was particularly important for Chopra as he looks to improve his position in the Diamond League season standings and secure a place in the season-ending final.

Only the top six javelin throwers qualify automatically for the final, with additional places available through national or global wildcards. Before the Lausanne Diamond League, Chopra was seventh in the standings with five points.