Neeraj Chopra wins gold, creates history again, becomes the first Indian to win the Lausanne Diamond League.

Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal with a massive throw of 89.08m, qualifying him for the Diamond League final in Zurich next month.

Chopra was set to defend his title at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after winning silver at the world championships earlier this year, but he was forced to withdraw due to a groin injury. On Friday, Neeraj Chopra made an impressive comeback from injury to not only win a gold medal at the Lausanne Diamond League 2022 but also make history.

Following adequate rest and recovery from injury, the 24-year-old was back to his best, opening the event with a throw of 89.08m, his third-best throw of his career. Chopra then measured 85.18m on his second attempt before passing on his third. His fourth throw was a foul, but he passed his fifth attempt before registering an 80.04m throw in the sixth and final round. Only the top three throwers after five attempts are eligible for the sixth attempt. His first attempt alone was enough for him to grab the gold medal.

Chopra won gold with a massive throw of 89.08m, qualifying him for the crucial Diamond League final in Zurich next month, as well as the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, which has a qualification mark of 85.20m. The Olympic champion is the first Indian to accomplish the feat.

Chopra had finished second in the Stockholm leg of the diamond league behind Anderson Peters with a national record throw of 89.94m prior to the Lausanne Diamond League event. Despite scoring eight points, Chopra remains in fourth place with 15 points. Prior to Chopra, discus thrower Vikas Gowda was the only Indian to place in the top three at a Diamond League Meet. Gowda had finished second twice in New York in 2012 and Doha in 2014, and was also third in Shanghai as well as Eugene in 2015.

Following the event, Neeraj Chopra was overjoyed with the outcome and the speed with which he recovered from his injury.

“I am delighted with my result tonight. 89m is a great performance. I am specially pleased as I am coming back from an injury and tonight was a good indicator that I have recovered well. I had to skip Commonwealth Games due to injury and I was a bit nervous. Tonight has given me a lot of confidence to finish the season on a high, with a strong performance in Zurich DL Final.” Neeraj said to press sources.