Neeraj Chopra throws 88.67m to win Diamond League season opener in Doha

Neeraj Chopra began his 2023 season with a first-place finish in men’s javelin throw at Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday.

FILE PHOTO: India’s Neeraj Chopra began his 2023 season in men’s javelin throw at the Doha Diamond League on Friday.

Once again, his first throw turned out to be his best. Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra defeated Grenada’s World champion Anderson Peters and won the Diamond League season-opener in Doha with an impressive World-leading 88.67m on Friday.

Peters had won the Diamond League gold in Doha last year with a personal-best 93.07m, but he has had a string of mediocre throws this season, and Chopra began as the favourite.

Diamond League 2023, HIGHLIGHTS: Neeraj wins javelin throw season opener in Doha with 88.67m

The Indian, the Diamond League Trophy winner last year, won the title with his season-opening throw of 88.67 and then followed it up with two 86-plus efforts (86.04 and 86.52) with his second and last efforts.

Czech Republic’s Jakub Vadlejch was second with 88.63, while Peters was third with 85.88.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games triple jump champion Eldhose Paul had a disappointing Diamond League debut, finishing 10th with a wind-assisted 15.84m.

Eldhose, who has a season-best of 16.61m, which came Indian Jumps Open in Ballari in March, and a personal best of 16.99m, was probably nervous with some of the world’s best around him. His opening attempt was his day’s best, and his next two read 13.65 and 14.70, with all his jumps coming under a +2.2 wind.

Portugal’s Pedro Pichardo, the Olympic and World champion, won the gold with 17.91m, while Burkina Faso’s Hugues Fabrice Zango, the World leader this season, took the silver with 17.81.