Neeraj Chopra strains up an try within the males’s javelin throw in the course of the Diamond League athletics meet in Doha, on Could 10, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP
He saved his finest for the final however for as soon as, it simply wasn’t sufficient.
Neeraj Chopra, on Friday night time, was within the unfamiliar place of enjoying catch up as Czech Jakub Vadlejch set the mark early on and managed to remain forward all by means of, ending on prime on the Doha Diamond League right here with a finest throw of 88.38m to push Neeraj into second spot, simply two centimetres behind with 88.36m.
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Neeraj, collaborating in his first competitors this yr as he kicks off his Olympic gold defence, regarded snug however not at his finest. For somebody recognized for his ‘one and finished’ performances, beginning with a foul throw was not ultimate. It was just like his state of affairs on the Asian Video games final yr however right here, the competitors was totally different.
Vadlejch, who already had an 87m throw earlier this yr, began with an 85.87 and whereas Neeraj improved over the subsequent two makes an attempt, the Czech was in no temper to relent this time round. Neeraj, who has usually claimed it isn’t over until the final throw, proved why he charges consistency so extremely.
Whereas Jakub fouled his ultimate try, Neeraj pushed himself all the way in which in his sixth try however fell agonisingly in need of the mark.
The opposite Indian within the fray Kishore Kumar Jena, in his Diamond League debut, was unable to get wherever near his finest, bowing out after the primary three makes an attempt and a finest throw of solely 76.31m. Jena had already stated his foremost goal was to get used to the sphere forward of the Paris Olympics however he can be dissatisfied with not with the ability to cross the 80m mark.
On the lengthy leap pit, Greek reigning Olympic and World champion Miltiadis Tentoglou steadily improved with each leap however might solely find yourself second with a better of 8.36m in his ultimate try, behind Jamaican Corey McLeod who left the sphere behind with an enormous 8.52m in his fourth try.
Not all favourites struggled, although. The lads’s 400m Olympic champion Steven Gardiner, who needed to pull out of the World Championships final yr with damage and solely made his return earlier this yr, took prime spot in 44.76 seconds, forward of Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga (45.07s).
The lads’s 200m was an all-American affair, led by Kenneth Bednarek in 19.67 seconds — once more a World Lead, Meet Document and private finest.
The outcomes
Males: 200m: 1. Kenneth Bednarek (USA) 19.67s, 2. Courtney Lindsey (USA) 20.01, 3. Kyree King (USA) 20.21; 400m: 1. Steven Gardiner (Bah) 44.76s, 2. Muzala Samukonga (Zam) 45.07, 3. Leungo Scotch (Bot) 45.29; 1500m: 1. Brian Komen (Ken) 3:32.43, 2. Timothy Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:32.67, 3. Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot (Ken) 3:32.96; 400m hurdles: 1. Alsion Dos Santos (Bra) 46.86s, 2. CJ Allen (USA) 48.39, 3. Wilfried Happio (Fra) 49.10.
3000 steeplechase: 1. Samuel Firewu (Eth) 8:07.25s, 2. Abraham Kibiwott (Ken) 8:07.38, 3. Getnet Wale (Eth) 8:09.69s; Lengthy Leap: 1. Corey McLeod (Jam) 8.52m, 2. Miltiadis Tentoglou (Gre) 8.36, 3. Simon Ehammer (Sui) 8.30; Javelin: 1. Jakub Vadlejch (Cze) 88.38m, 2. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 88.36, 3. Anderson Peters (Gre) 86.72.
Ladies: 100m: 1. Daryll Neita (GBr) 10.98s, 2. Tamari Davis (USA) 10.99, 3. Celera Barnes (USA) 11.02; 800m: 1. Mary Moraa (Ken) 1:57:91s, 2. Jemma Reekie (GBr) 1:58:42, 3. Noelie Yarigo (Ben) 1:58:70; 1500m: 1. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 4:00:42, 2. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:00:84, 3. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 4:09:19; 5000m: 1. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 14:26:98, 2. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 14:29:26, 3. Medina Eisa (Eth) 14:34:11.
100m hurdles : 1. Ditaji Kambundji (Sui) 12.49s, 2. Tonea Marshall (USA) 12.51, 3. Pia Skrzyszowska (Pol) 12.53; Excessive leap: 1. Angelina Matter (Srb) 1.94m, 2. Iryna Gerashchenko (Ukr) 1.91, 3. Eleanor Patterson (Aus) 1.91; Pole Vault: 1. Molly Caudery (GBr) 4.73m, 2. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 4.73m, 3. Tina Sutej (Slo) 4.63m.