Neeraj Chopra throws season-best 88.05m at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra threw a season-best 88.05m in the men's javelin at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 21, 2026. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage produced an 88.14m third attempt to retake the lead.

Chopra entered Lausanne carrying a season-best of 85.83m and a personal best of 90.23m set in 2025, and he is a former Diamond League Final winner in 2024. The field in Lausanne included Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage, Germany's Julian Weber, Grenada's Anderson Peters, Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch and Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott. The build-up noted that Pathirage and Weber have both crossed the 90-metre mark this season.

The competition opened with Pathirage laying down an early marker of 85.99m, surpassing Chopra's pre-meet season best. Chopra managed 83.54m on his first attempt, leaving him second after the opening round. Curtis Thompson's first attempt was a foul and Anderson Peters recorded 77.96m with his opening throw.

Pathirage improved to 87.06m on his second attempt to stretch his advantage. Chopra responded on his second attempt with the 88.05m effort, moving to the top of the standings and recording his best throw of the season, surpassing the 85.83m he had carried into Lausanne. Anderson Peters moved into second with an 84.76m second attempt, while Curtis Thompson registered 74.58m on his second throw.

On third attempts Chopra produced 83.72m, before Pathirage answered with an 88.14m third throw that moved him back into the lead, edging Chopra's 88.05m by 8cm. After those third-round efforts Pathirage held first place and Chopra was second with 88.05m as his best mark.

Chopra's 88.05m stands as his season-best and surpassed the 85.83m he had entered Lausanne with; at the halfway stage he sits second behind Pathirage. The marks recorded in Lausanne form part of Chopra's campaign toward the Diamond League Final.