Diamond League Paris: India’s Neeraj Chopra Claims Javelin Glory, Da Silva Sets South American Record

Paris — After a season-long rivalry with Germany’s Julian Weber, India’s Neeraj Chopra finally got the better of his rival at the Diamond League meet in Paris, securing a commanding victory with a throw of 88.16 meters.

This marked Chopra’s first Diamond League win of the 2025 season and a significant milestone in his ongoing quest to maintain dominance in the javelin.

The season had seen intense competition between Chopra and Weber. Earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League, Weber edged Chopra with a personal best of 91.06 meters, narrowly surpassing Chopra’s national record throw of 90.23 meters.

Weber also bested Chopra at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland, making the Paris meet a highly anticipated rematch.

Returning to Paris for the first time in eight years, Neeraj Chopra wasted no time asserting his authority. He launched a massive 88.16-meter throw on his very first attempt, setting the tone for the competition. Despite three invalid attempts later in the event, that opening throw proved unbeatable. Weber responded with a strong 87.88 meters but could not surpass Chopra’s mark.

Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva electrified the crowd by setting a new South American record with a personal best of 86.62 meters, finishing third and signalling his rise on the world stage. Other notable competitors included Olympic champions Keshorn Walcott and Anderson Peters, who threw 81.66 meters and 80.29 meters, respectively.

Official Results:

Chopra’s win in Paris not only adds to his impressive résumé but also breaks a recent pattern of close losses to Weber, reasserting his status as a top contender this season. As the Diamond League continues toward its climax in Zurich, Chopra looks poised to build on this momentum and chase further success.