Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra delivered his best performance in over a year but narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing second to rising Sri Lankan thrower Rumesh Pathirage by just nine centimetres at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on Friday.
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 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.