Neeraj Chopra after second place at Diamond League finals: 'Indians now believe that we can also win'

Neeraj Chopra finished second best at the Diamond League finals with a modest effort of 83.80m at Eugene, Oregon in the United States on Saturday. Jakub Vadlejch became the Diamond League champion for the third time with a best throw of 84.24m.

At this very venue last year, Chopra had finished second in the World Championships.

Chopra, who clinched his maiden World Championships gold medal last month, struggled under 25 degree Celsius temperature and 45 percent humidity. No competitor could touch the 85m mark.

He fouled his two attempts and his best effort of the day came in the second throw, with the series reading foul, 83.80m, 81.37m, foul, 80.74 and 80.90m.

The Olympic champion remained upbeat despite the second-place and focused on his influence on track and field in India.

“After Olympic gold, they also believe that we can also win. I was there in Budapest (for World Championships), I won gold there, and it will also change something in Indian Athletics,” he said on Saturday evening.

Neeraj, who has a personal best of 89.94m and season’s best of 88.77m, won two individual Diamond League meetings (in Doha and Lausanne) before clinching a historic gold in the World Championships last month. He now heads to the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

“I still have one more competition, Asian Games in China,” Chopra said.

“In big competition I think always it’s about mindset; in big competition we don’t need to prepare yourself. When we enter into the stadium, our mind is ready and body will be ready for the competition. I really like to compete with these guys, all are good friends and we’re all competing in a very good way.”

Vadlejch, who won a bronze medal at the World Championships in August and silver in Tokyo Olympics behind Chopra, had also clinched the Diamond League title in 2017 and 2018.

“It’s always tough competing with Neeraj, but victory is for me, very valuable. I’m still dreaming. I felt very well. Actually one throw I had over 85 meters, over 86, but it was a centimeter false. It was very good. It’s very difficult, especially in my age, I’m almost 33 years old, so it’s difficult but javelin throw is my life, so I love it,” said the man from Czech Republic.