It’s Neeraj Chopra time again. The reigning world champion and two-time Olympic medallist is set to return to action at the Diamond League Final in Zurich on August 28, 2025, where he will aim to reclaim the prestigious title in men’s javelin throw.
For the Indian superstar, the event represents both an opportunity to reaffirm his dominance on the global stage and a chance to cap an already historic season. Chopra’s entry into Zurich comes on the back of a landmark year. At the Doha Diamond League, he finally joined the elite 90m club, registering a personal best of 90.23m with his third attempt. That throw made him only the 25th man in history to cross the 90m barrier, a feat that had eluded him despite coming agonisingly close on several occasions.
His ability to breach that psychological mark has only added to the anticipation surrounding his Zurich campaign. The Diamond League Final is one of athletics’ most elite one-day meetings, bringing together the best performers from the season. For Chopra, it is familiar territory. He won the coveted Diamond Trophy in 2022, before finishing as runner-up in both 2023 and 2024. This season, he qualified for the Final in fourth place after participating in just two of the four qualifying legs, highlighting both his selective scheduling and his consistency at the highest level.
The field in Zurich, however, promises to be highly competitive. Defending champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, Germany’s Julian Weber who boasts a season-best of 91.06m and Trinidad & Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott (86.30m) are all in contention. Moldova’s Andrian Mardare (82.38m), Kenya’s former world champion Julius Yego (84.51m), and local favourite Simon Wieland (79.33m) complete the lineup. With multiple throwers capable of breaching the 85m and even 90m marks, the Zurich final is set to be one of the most closely fought contests of the season.
Chopra’s most recent competitive outing came at the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, where he won with a throw of 86.18m. That event, hosted by him, marked his sixth appearance of the season, a campaign that has seen him collect four victories and two runner-up finishes. His consistency, coupled with the 90m breakthrough, makes him one of the clear favourite heading into Zurich.
The stakes in Zurich are high. Apart from the iconic Diamond Trophy, the men’s javelin winner will also pocket USD 30,000, with the second and third-placed athletes receiving USD 12,000 and USD 7,000 respectively. More importantly, the winner earns a wild card entry to the World Championships in Tokyo next month, where Chopra will be defending the world title he won in Budapest in 2023.
For Chopra, Zurich is not just about prize money or prestige it is about cementing his status as the undisputed leader of the javelin world. Having already captured two Olympic medals and a World Championship crown, the Diamond League remains a stage where he has consistently showcased his ability to deliver under pressure. A second Diamond Trophy would place him in rare company and further strengthen his legacy as India’s greatest track and field athlete.
As he takes to the field on August 28 at 11:15 PM IST, the spotlight will be firmly on him. Backed by millions of fans in India and admired globally for his composure, technique, and consistency, Neeraj Chopra will once again look to deliver a performance worthy of his stature. Whether he adds another Diamond Trophy to his glittering cabinet or not, one thing is certain: Zurich will witness yet another chapter in the extraordinary journey of India’s golden boy of athletics.
