Indian javelin ace Neeraj Chopra produced his best performance in more than a year but was pipped to the post by the rising Sri Lankan star Rumesh Pathirage for the top spot by a mere nine centimetres in the Lausanne Diamond League meet in Lausanne on Friday (August 21, 2026).
Pathirage had won in both the events, while Chopra had finished fourth and second, respectively. It was also his season’s best throw. The injury delayed his return until the Diamond League in Doha.
The 28-year-old Chopra’s 88.05m throw in the second round, which fetched him the second spot in the nine-man star-studded field, was his best after the 88.16m he recorded while winning the Paris Diamond League in June 2025. “I didn’t realise it was only nine centimetres, it was really close, but I’m happy with the 88-metre throw. This was the third time in a row that the 23-year-old Pathirage had beaten two-time Olympic medallist Chopra this year. Pathirage has been in the form of his life this season, having also won the Doha and Rome Diamond League meetings, besides clinching gold in Glasgow with a throw of 89.75m. He also breached the coveted 90m mark with a season-leading throw of 92.62m in Rome in June. He was not 100 per cent fit in Glasgow but was able to win a silver with a season’s best throw of 85.83m.
Because i felt very relaxed, to be honest, it didn’t feel like it went 88m.
Chopra later said it was a close tussle between him and Pathirage for the top spot. I tried really hard and later focused on my technique,” he said.
He had earlier beaten the Indian superstar in the Doha Diamond League and then in the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“With every competition, I feel that I’m coming back. The crowds in Lausanne and Zurich understand athletics and really support you, so it’s always good to compete here.
With his second-place finish, Chopra also jumped to top five in the season-ending Diamond League Finals standings from his earlier seventh spot.