Doha Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra, Kishore Jena begin 2024 season

Neeraj Chopra and Kishore Jena will begin their 2024 season in the prestigious Doha Diamond League on Friday, May 10.

The Olympic and former world champion, Neeraj, will be keen on starting the year on a high and laying down a marker ahead of the Paris Olympics. Neeraj is the defending champion in the Doha Diamond League, but he is in for a stern test in the season-opening javelin event in Doha

Neeraj Chopra will be up against the likes of Olympic silver medalist and Diamond Trophy winner from 2023, Jakub Vadlejch, and former world champion Anderson Peters. Giving him stiff competition is compatriot Kishore Jena, who will be looking to replicate the form that he showcased in 2023. Kishore, who has a personal best of 87.54m, was leading Neeraj in the Asian Games final last year before he finished with a silver medal. The 28-year-old also finished fifth in the World Championships last year.

Neeraj has high hopes for Kishore. The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist even said he would be super happy to share the Olympic podium with Kishore later this year in Paris. However, the star attraction at the Doha Diamond League will be Neeraj, who will return to action for the first time since winning the Asian Games Gold with a best effort of 88.88m in October last year.

WILL NEERAJ BREACH 90m BARRIER IN DOHA?

Neeraj has trained in South Africa and Turkey in the lead-up to the 2024 season. The Olympic star was in good spirits as he addressed the press on the eve of the Doha Diamond League meet. Neeraj opened up about the chatter around the much-awaited 90m throw, but stressed that he would be looking for consistency in the Olympic year.

“This question, a lot of people have asked me since 2018 — when I threw 88.06m in the Asian Games. But, then, lots of things have happened — my elbow injury, surgery. I am stuck between 88m and 90m. But, I really want to break this barrier. Last year, I told in this press conference that Doha is famous for 90m. But, we were not lucky because of too much of a headwind. Yeah, maybe tomorrow, it will be good,” Neeraj said.

Yes, Doha has been one of the meets known for big throws. Thomas Rohler’s 93.90m, the third-best-ever throw in men’s javelin history, came in Doha in 2017. Anderson Peters’ best effort of 93.07 came here in 2022. Jakub Vadlejch’s personal best of 90.88m also came in 2022 in Doha. Neeraj won the Doha meet last year with a best effort of 88.67m.

WHO ARE NEERAJ’S COMPETITORS?

The only man to throw 90m in 2024 — Germany’s 19-year-old Max Dehning is not competing in Doha. However, there is stiff competition for Neeraj on Friday.

Jakub Vadlejch, who won the silver medal in the Tokyo Olympics and the Diamond Trophy in 2023, will be Neeraj’s biggest threat. The Czech Republic star has a best throw of 87m which he achieved in Potchefstroom in March. The big throw has set the benchmark early.

Anderson Peters, who has had issues with injury in the recent past, will be looking to get back to his best and a Diamond League meet might be the best platform to send a message to his rivals.