Neeraj Chopra qualified for the Diamond League finals in Brussels despite missing three of the five meetings this season. Joining him in the spotlight will be Rumesh Pathirage, who faces a worldโclass menโs javelin lineup.
Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra qualified for the 2026 Diamond League finals on Thursday in Brussels despite not participating in three out of the five DL meetings this season. Twoโtime Olympic medallist Rumesh Pathirage will take the field in Brussels, facing a worldโclass menโs javelin lineup brimming with international talent.
Notably, Neeraj did not participate in the Zurich leg of the Diamond League, where Sri Lankan sensation Rumesh Pathirage clinched the top spot with a stunning 92.07m throw.
Why was Neeraj out of action?
One of the biggest reasons behind Neeraj’s absence from the Diamond League events was a persistent back injury, which kept him out of the sport for nine months. After undergoing extensive rehab, India’s golden boy returned to action at the Doha Diamond League, where he finished fourth with a successful 85.69m attempt.
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Neeraj then returned to action at Lausanne DL in August, putting up an even better performance with an 88.05m attempt, finishing second behind Pathirage.
How did India’s Golden Boy qualify for DL Final?
Despite missing out on action in Zurich, Neeraj’s points from his performance in Doha and Lausanne were decisive enough to qualify for the Diamond League finals. He clinched 12 points from the two events (five points in Doha and seven points in Lausanne).
More from SportsSri Lanka’s Pathirage is currently leading the table with 39 points, while Grenada’s Anderson Peters has 35 points, Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad & Tobago secured 23 points, while USA’s Curtis Thompson has 20 points.
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Kenya’s Julius Yego picked up 13 points from all his DL appearances, while Neeraj is sixth on the list after securing 12 points.
Diamond League Finals 2026: Participants in the men’s javelin final event
1. Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (Sri Lanka): 39 points
2. Anderson Peters (Grenada): 35 points
3. Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad & Tobago): 23 points
4. Curtis Thompson (USA): 20 points
5. Julius Yego (Kenya): 13 points
6. Neeraj Chopra (India): 12 points
The Diamond League 2026 finals are all set to take place in Brussels on September 4 and 5, 2026.