Reigning world champion and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra is gearing up to showcase his early-season form ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Chopra, alongside Asian Games silver medalist Kishore Jena, will represent India in the 10-man javelin field at the upcoming Doha Diamond League event scheduled for May 10.
Chopra and Jena are set to face tough competition from a stellar lineup, including former world champion Anderson Peters and Olympic silver medalists Jakub Vadlejch and Julius Yego. Notably, Germany’s Johannes Vetter, who has been grappling with injuries over the past three years, is absent from the 10-man roster. Max Dehning, the youngest athlete to achieve a 90m throw earlier this year, will also not participate in Doha.
Doha Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena to feature in javelin throw
🚨 Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena ready to take on the world's best at #DohaDiamondleague!
— nnis (@nnis_sports) May 8, 2024
➖Kishore Jena makes his debut in the Diamond League, while Neeraj aims to repeat his top spot performance from last season with a throw of 88.67m.
➖This time, both target the elusive… pic.twitter.com/0LcQI3Bgvv
Chopra, the defending Doha Diamond League champion, is eager to return to competition after his gold-winning performance at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Having secured Olympic glory, Chopra is keen to kickstart the Olympic year with a strong performance and set a high standard early on.
Meanwhile, Kishore Jena aims to capitalize on his successes from 2023 and position himself as a formidable contender in the Olympic year. The 28-year-old Indian impressed with his skills at the Asian Games, clinching a silver medal with a personal best throw of 87.54m.
The competition will surely help both Indians up their game ahead of the Paris Olympics, where they will hope to do their best. The event will take place at 22:12 local time on May 10.
