Neeraj Chopra Falls Short in Lausanne as Pathirage Claims Diamond League Gold

LAUSANNE, Aug 22: India’s Neeraj Chopra finished second in the men’s javelin at the Lausanne Diamond League after recording a season best throw of 88.05 metres. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage edged him by just nine centimetres with a winning effort of 88.14m.

Chopra entered the competition seeking a strong performance against Pathirage, who has emerged as one of his toughest rivals during the 2026 season. The Indian Olympic champion eventually delivered his best mark of the year but could not retain the lead after the Sri Lankan responded with his decisive throw.

The narrow margin highlighted the intensity of the javelin contest, with Grenada’s Anderson Peters finishing third with 86.69m.

Chopra’s 88.05m nevertheless represented a significant improvement and provided a positive boost as he continues his campaign on the international athletics circuit.

Pathirage’s victory further strengthened his position in a season that has seen repeated battles between the two throwers. Chopra will now look to build on his Lausanne performance as the Diamond League season moves towards its concluding stages.

The result also keeps the Indian star firmly among the leading names in the event, with his latest throw demonstrating that he remains capable of challenging for major honours at the highest level.

For Chopra, the nine-centimetre defeat will be disappointing, but the season best performance offers encouragement ahead of his next competitions.