Neeraj Chopra Highlights, Diamond League Final 2025: Julian Weber beats Neeraj with two 91-metre throws

Is this Julian Weber's year? The German wins one more event and throws two more javelin attempts over the 90m mark at Zurich. Neeraj Chopra meanwhile ends second, with a best throw of 85.01m. 

This makes Weber the faviourite heading into the World Athletics Championships. 

So Neeraj Chopra manages to rise to second spot with a final throw of 85.01m, which came after three straight no marks. This takes him to second spot in the standings, over Keshorn Walcott. 

Former tennis ace Roger Federer is one of the viewers at the Zurich Diamond League. Maybe Neeraj is one of the athletes he is egging on, they did after all meet a few months back. 

So Neeraj Chopra has now thrown the javelin three consecutive times where the mark cannot be counted. That's three 'no-marks' in a row for Chopra. He's third in the standings with all throwers still having one final throw. 

The throwing distances have largely been in the 80 to 84m range tonight, which puts into perspective how massive Weber's first two throws were. The rest of the field has been unable to cross even 85. It'll be interesting to hear how the throwers analyse the conditions although in Neeraj's case, three foul throws in five attempts mean the external factors, too, don't mean much. Weber has operated on a different level whereas Neeraj has endured one of the toughest nights of his career.

-- By Mihir Vasavda

So after two legit throws from Neeraj Chopra, he's fouled his next two attempts in the Diamond League Finals. 

Here's what the leaderboard looks like after all seven men have had seven heaves into the night each. 

Neeraj isn't having the best of nights. Fouls his third attempt to head into the second half of the competition in third place. Huge gap between Weber and the rest of the field tonight and it'll take a Neeraj special to stop the German.

-- By Mihir Vasavda

June 2021 – Kuortane Games in Finland – remains the last time Neeraj has finished outside second place. Will that streak be tested today for the big man? There is still time for him to climb at least one place above the leaderboard, even if Weber seems to be in a league of his own.

-- By Vinayakk Mohanarangan 

Weber's second throw of 91.51m will sit 14th on the all-time list, between Finland's Tero Pitkamaki's effort of 91.53m in 2005 and UK's Steve Backley's throw of 91.46m in 1992.

-- By Mihir Vasavda

Some scenes from the Diamond League Finals in Zurich where both Neeraj Chopra and Julian Weber have thrown two attempts each. 

While Weber broke the world lead for 2025 with a 91.37m first attempt, Neeraj had a decent first throw, although he looked a little unhappy with his first attempt. Then, in the second attempt, Weber bettered the world lead once again, this time throwing 91.51m. Neeraj Chopra meanwhile had a second throw of 82.00m.  

Another interesting point that Weber made back in May was how he wasn't intimidated by Neeraj's 90-plus throw that night. "I didn’t let Chopra’s early throw shake me—on the contrary, it added to the excitement. I stayed focused, kept building with each throw, and knew that if I caught one just right, something big could happen," he had said.

It'll be interesting to see if the roles reverse today and Weber's big throw pushes Neeraj to get a personal best.

-- By Mihir Vasavda

Weber has gone from 91.06m in May during the Doha Diamond League to 91.37m tonight... Massive improvement.

Speaking to The Indian Express after the Doha Diamond League, Weber said more than technical, handling the psychological aspects - 'handling the pressure' - helped him cross the 90m barrier.

Here's an excerpt from that interview: "It’s (90m throw) really been years in the making. I’ve been so close for so long, and deep down, I always knew I had a 90-meter throw in me. So more than anything, this was about patience and perseverance. Psychologically, I’ve learned to handle pressure better, and physically, I’ve stayed consistent despite setbacks. It feels like a breakthrough, but one that’s been building slowly and steadily."

-- By Mihir Vasavda

It's sad that yet again, javelin followers will have to wait for the live tickers on the diamond league website to be updated to see how far Neeraj has thrown. And it's not too long, a modest 84.35m start by the Indian to sit at third spot behind Weber and Keshorn Walcott after first round of throws.

-- By Mihir Vasavda

Neeraj Chopra starts with a 84.35m throw, which puts him thrid in the standings. Julian Weber, with a 91.37m throw in first attempt, is on top of the standings today, and is also the world lead holder, breaking his own record for 2025.

It's huuuuge from Weber. The German - who touched the 90m mark for the first time on the same day as Neeraj at the Doha Diamond League - opens with a massive 91.37m throw, a personal best and world leading mark this year.

From Mihir Vasavda

Four throwers have had their turns here at Zurich. 

And it's Keshorn walcott who leads withg a throw of 84.95m. Meanwhile, Anderson Peters is second with a heave of 81.41m. 

Neeraj and Julian Weber coming up shortly! For now, the distance to beat is 84.95m

We're minutes away from the start of the men's javelin throw event. Can Neeraj Chopra seal the Diamond League Finals just weeks before the Athletics World Championships?

A look at the seven contenders in action today to win the Diamond League final:  

Start  list Javelin    Throw  

Order        Athlete                            NR             PB              SB
 1         Simon WIELAND                82.07        79.44          79.33
 2        Andrian MARDARE             86.66        86.66           82.38
 3        Julius YEGO                        92.72        92.72          84.51
 4        Keshorn WALCOTT             90.16        90.16         86.30
 5        Anderson PETERS              93.07        93.07          85.64
 6       Julian WEBER                     97.76         91.06         91.06
 7       Neeraj CHOPRA                  90.23         90.23         90.23

Other results at Diamond League Finals so far: 

Baweke wins 3000m: Ethiopia's Aleshign Baweke won the 3000m in 8:40.56. That's not just her first Diamond League title, it's also her first Diamond League win, notes the Diamond League site.

Allman clinches fifth title: In women's discus, Valarie Allman clinches her fifth successive Diamond League title with 69.18m throw. She is now just one Diamond Trophy short of equalling Sandra Elkasevic's record of six and becoming the most successful woman in Diamond League history.

Meeting record in the 400m: Salwa Eid Naser wins the women's 400m with a meeting record of 48.70. The Bahraini athlete beats favourite Marileidy Paulino.

Earlier this season, Neeraj Chopra finally crossed the 90m mark that was repeatedly eluding him for many seasons. Now, Neeraj Chopra's challenge lies in breaching the 90m regularly.  

Chopra, on the eve of the Diamond League final, said if he gets his technique right in competition, he is capable of consistently hitting the 90-metre mark.

“I really want to throw more and more consistently... 90 metres. It (Doha) was early in the season, but I still tried to find good technique. In training we are doing really good with my coach Jan Zelezny. I need to focus on the same technique in competition," Chopra said.  

When asked about his speed on the runway, he added: “In the run up I am really, really fast, but I don't think I am using speed right now. In Doha the 90 meter throw was really good, but technically I don't want to say that was perfect. If my left leg is straight and I use the perfect block that will be a really good throw. Then I will be satisfied with my speed.”

Today, Neeraj Chopra returns to a venue where he made history three years ago, becoming the first Indian to win a Diamond League Final, writes Nihal Koshie in his preview of the Diamond League Finals. 

Meanwhile, talking about the reigning Olympic champion from Pakistan, Arshad Nadeem, Koshie adds: "Since the Olympics final, Neeraj and Nadeem have not featured in the same competition. Nadeem has focused on post calf-surgery rehabilitation. Those seeing the men's javelin only through the India-versus-Pakistan lens should start paying attention to Germany's Julian Weber."

Weber is the latest German javelin thrower in the line after Rio 2016 gold medallist Thomas Rohler and former world champion Johannes Vetter. 

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Diamond League Finals from Zurich where India's Neeraj Chopra will be in action shortly. 

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