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All eyes on Neeraj as stage is set for Diamond League finals in Zurich

The 20-year-old has been in red horm form this season winning the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals in this discipline.

Neeraj Chopra

Bengaluru, August 29: India will pin their hopes on ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra in the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League final in Zurich on Thursday (August 30).

Panipat Celebrates As Neeraj Chopra Clinches Gold

The 20-year-old has been in red horm form this season winning the Commonwealth and Asian Games gold medals in this discipline.

At the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia, Neeraj clinched the yellow metal with a national record throw of 88.06M, the sixth best in the world this season.

However, his task is much easier said than done in Zurich in a world class filed which includes the like of Olympic champion Thomas Roehler of Germany and last year's winner last year's winner, Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic.

Rohler threw 93.90M at the IAAF season-opener in Doha, putting him second on the all-time world list, and won two more Diamond League meetings before the final, with the other going to his compatriot Johannes Vetter, who took the world title in London.

Rohler had defeated his compatriots Andreas Hofmann and Vetter this month to win the European javelin title in Berlin. But can defending champion Vadlejch upset the German powers again?

It is against such a quality field that Neeraj has prove his mettle.

Over the next two days, high-octane track and field action will be the order of the day at Zurich's Letzigrund Stadium.

The field assembled across 16 disciplines - the other 16 will be settled in Brussels on the following night - is due to include 11 Olympic champions, 12 world champions and 11 European champions.

For India, Neeraj will be the cynosure of all eyes, especially after his impressive show in Jakarta. The javelin throw event begins at 8.55pm local time (Friday, 12.25am IST).

(With inputs from IAAF and other Agencies).

Story first published: Thursday, August 30, 2018, 10:36 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 30, 2018