Neeraj-Pathirage showdown in Lausanne DL

The Sri Lankan javelin throw sensation Rumesh Pathirage and Indian star Neeraj Chopra are set to clash again in the upcoming Lausanne Diamond League meet on Friday. This encounter holds significance as a spot in the DL grand finale in Brussels is at stake. Three weeks ago, Pathirage emerged victorious, clinching gold while Chopra secured silver at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

23-year-old Pathirage has been on fire this season, with victories in the Doha and Rome Diamond League meetings alongside the gold in Glasgow. He even surpassed the 90-meter mark in Rome, throwing 92.62 meters. To date, the Sri Lankan athlete has triumphed in eight out of nine competitions this season.

In contrast, Chopra is making a comeback after overcoming a lower back injury that had sidelined him since last September. The 28-year-old acknowledged his fitness is not at its peak but is improving steadily. Following Glasgow, he has been focusing on rehabilitation and training under the guidance of childhood coach Jaiveer Chaudhary and physio Ishan Marwah in Biel, Switzerland.

Two-time Olympic medallist Chopra has finished outside the top-two in only two competitions over the past five years. Athletics Federation of India selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla has cautioned against undervaluing Chopra, stating that the superstar Indian should not be harshly judged for winning a silver at times.

The Lausanne Diamond League promises to be a high-profile event, but its allure has slightly diminished with the withdrawal of reigning world champion Arshad Nadeem and newly crowned European champion Julian Weber of Germany. Nadeem's best throw since his Olympic gold in 2024 has been 86.40 meters, while Weber holds the distinction of being the only second javelin thrower to breach the 90-meter barrier, with his European Championship gold-winning throw of 90.40 meters.

Despite the loss of top contenders, the competition remains fierce, featuring reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago and Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time world champion and bronze medalist from the Paris Olympics. Additionally, America's World Championships bronze-medallist Curtis Thompson and veteran Tokyo Olympics silver-winner Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic are also in the mix.

For Chopra, the Lausanne meet holds immense importance in climbing the Diamond League Finals standings. Currently ranked seventh with six points, Chopra aims to secure a top-three finish to propel him further in the world rankings for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championships, set to take place in Budapest from September 11 to 13.