Neeraj Chopra finishes second, Pathirage wins title in Lausanne Diamond League

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Neeraj Chopra competes in the javelin during the World Athletics Diamond League athletics meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on August 21, 2026. | Photo Credit: AP

Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra produced his best performance in more than a year but was pipped to the post by the rising Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage for the top spot by a mere nine centimetres in the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Lausanne on Friday (August 21, 2026).

The 28-year-old Chopra’s 88.05m throw in the second round, which fetched him the second spot in the nine-man star-studded field, was his best after the 88.16m he recorded while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. It was also his season’s best throw.

However, the 23-year-old Pathirage continued his juggernaut this season as he overtook Chopra with his third-round throw of 88.14m.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters was third with his sixth and final round effort of 86.69m.

Reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago was fourth with a best throw of 83.71m.

World Championships bronze winner Curtis Thompson of the USA was sixth with a below-par 78.13m, while Tokyo Olympics silver winner Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic took the seventh spot with 77.32m.

Chopra later said it was a close tussle between him and Pathirage for the top spot.

“I didn’t realise it was only nine centimetres, it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-metre throw. To be honest, it didn’t feel like it went 88m because I felt very relaxed. I tried really hard and later focused on my technique,” he said.

“With every competition, I feel that I’m coming back. The crowds in Lausanne and Zurich understand athletics and really support you, so it’s always good to compete here.” With his second-place finish, Chopra also jumped to top five in the season-ending Diamond League Finals standings from his earlier seventh spot.

For jumps and throws, the top six in the standings will compete in the September 4-5 DL Finals in Brussels. One additional athlete per discipline may also compete via a national or global wildcard selection.

Pathirage and Peters have already qualified for the DL Finals after accumulating 23 and 22 points, respectively. There is another DL meet which has a men's javelin throw event in it — in Zurich on August 27.

Chopra had won the DL Finals title in 2022 and finished second in 2023, 2024 and 2025.