Reigning men’s javelin world champion Neeraj Chopra will compete at the Paris Diamond League 2025 scheduled at the Stade Sebastien-Charlety on June 20 (June 21 according to IST).
Neeraj will make his first Paris Diamond League appearance in eight years, with his last outing coming in 2017.
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The Paris Diamond League 2025 men’s javelin event has a start list of seven athletes, including Neeraj. Following are the ones who Neeraj will compete against?
Who will be Neeraj Chopra’s top competitors at the Paris Diamond League 2025?
Julian Weber
Julian Weber has been Neeraj Chopra’s toughest rival this season. At the 2025 Doha Diamond League, Neeraj threw a personal best of 90.23m, only for Weber to snatch victory with 91.06m. The German also edged Neeraj in Chorzów, winning with 86.12m to Neeraj’s 84.14m. Based on current form, Weber remains the Indian star’s biggest threat heading into the Paris Diamond League.
Germany’s Julian Weber celebrates his world-leading score with India’s Neeraj Chopra (R) after the men’s Javelin throw final during the IAAF Diamond League competition at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on May 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Germany’s Julian Weber celebrates his world-leading score with India’s Neeraj Chopra (R) after the men’s Javelin throw final during the IAAF Diamond League competition at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on May 16, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Anderson Peters
Anderson Peters was pushed to third by Neeraj Chopra at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial and will be eyeing payback at the Paris Diamond League 2025. Though he hasn’t topped major events recently, Peters remains a serious threat. His personal best of 93.07m was achieved in Doha in 2022, and he also won bronze behind Neeraj at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Expect him to compete with intent.\
Who are Neeraj’s other competitors at the Paris Diamond League 2025?
Keshorn Walcott
Keshorn Walcott, a two-time Olympic medallist from Trinidad and Tobago, won gold at the 2012 London Games and bronze in Rio 2016. He also claimed silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Walcott is the first Caribbean male and the first athlete of African descent to win Olympic gold in a throwing event. His personal best of 90.15m is also the national and regional junior record.
Julius Yego
Julius Yego is a Kenyan track and field athlete, an Olympic silver medallist and a world champion. In 2014, he became the first Kenyan to win Commonwealth Games gold in a field event. A year later, he claimed World Championship gold with a personal best of 92.72m — the first Kenyan to do so in a field event. Yego also won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Kenya’s Julius Yego competes in the men’s javelin throw qualification of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Kenya’s Julius Yego competes in the men’s javelin throw qualification of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 6, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Luiz Mauricio da Silva
The Brazilian competed at the 2023 World Championships but failed to qualify for the final.
On June 30, 2024, Silva competed in the Brazil Trophy, held in São Paulo, achieving a mark of 85.57m and breaking the South American record for the event. With this throw, he also qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio Da Silva competes in the men’s javelin throw final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio Da Silva competes in the men’s javelin throw final of the athletics event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, on August 8, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
In Paris, his best throw came at 85.91m (also his personal best) in the qualification, breaking the South American record for the second time and qualifying for the final in sixth place. In the final, his performance dropped, and he finished 11th with a mark of 80.67m, equalling the best mark in Brazil’s history at the Olympics.
Andrian Mardare
Andrian Mardare represents Moldova and competed at the 2017 World Championships but did not qualify for the final. He also won a bronze medal at the 2017 European Under-23 Championships.
Moldova’s Andrian Mardare competes in the men’s javelin throw final during the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic stadium in Rome on June 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Moldova’s Andrian Mardare competes in the men’s javelin throw final during the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic stadium in Rome on June 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
AFP
