Moment of Shame for Indian Athletes: Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second

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Posted by AI on 2025-08-28 21:18:28 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-02-16 09:17:53

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Indian track and field superstar Neeraj Chopra couldn't stand up to the pressure of the Zurich Diamond League final, finishing a disappointing second behind Julian Weber.

The highly anticipated men's javelin throw final at the Diamond League in Zurich took place on Thursday, August 25. Many hopes were pinned on Indian athlete Neeraj Chopra, who had excelled in the qualifying rounds and was seen as a strong contender for first place. Chopra, the Tokyo Olympics champion and the reigning world champion, threw the javelin at a distance of 88.44 meters in the preliminary round, securing him a place in the eight-man final. It was the ideal opportunity for Chopra to demonstrate his prowess once more and improve upon his own world record of 88.44 meters.

German amateur Julian Weber, 20, was the underdog going into the final, but he stunned the favorites with a massive throw of 93.07 meters on his first attempt. That proved to be decisive, as no other athlete could match that mark during the entire final. Chopra had led for much of the day, but Weber's mighty throw knocked him down to second place with 88.49 meters, which he achieved in his second attempt.

Chopra had one more chance to respond but couldn't deliver when it mattered most. His remaining attempts were way off his best, with the farthest throw of 82.94 meters, and he had to settle for second place behind Weber. It was a disappointing finish for the 24-year-old Indian athlete and a moment of tremendous shame for Indian sports at the world stage.

Though Weber's surprise win was undoubtedly a thrilling moment for athletics, the occasion was dampened by Chopra's inability to rise to the occasion. The Indian champion, who had been in excellent form all year, just couldn't deliver when it mattered most.

With this result, Chopra, will have to work harder if he wants to surpass the magical 90-meter mark. Meanwhile, Weber's brilliant debut performance in the Diamond League final has put him on the world athletics map.

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