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New Delhi: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra had to settle for second place in the Diamond League Final once again as his arch-rival, Germany’s Julian Weber, produced the performance of his life to clinch his first title with two massive 90m-plus throws on Thursday.

Chopra was chasing his second Diamond League crown but could not find his usual rhythm in Zurich. He opened with 84.35m and sat in third place for most of the contest before saving his best for the last round with 85.01m, which moved him ahead of Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott. The 2012 Olympic gold medalist finished third with 84.95m.

Meanwhile, Weber was unstoppable. He started off with 91.37m and went even further with a world-leading 91.57m on his second attempt, setting the tone for a dominant evening. None of the other throwers came close to challenging him with his next best attempts of 83.66m, 86.45m and 88.66m, still far ahead of the field.

For the Indian star, who has built a reputation for consistent 88m-plus throws, this was a rare evening where he couldn’t get near his best. Out of his six attempts, only three were legal and he had to rely on his final effort just to secure second place.

The 27-year-old admitted he wasn’t fully satisfied with his performance but remained optimistic. “This was not too bad. We are getting close to the World Championships, so I still need to throw a little bit further. Some things went well, but not everything,” he said. “In the last attempt, I managed to reach 85. I’m happy for Julian, he showed his best today. We will see again in three weeks.”

Weber’s triumph in Zurich marked his third career throw beyond 90m. He had earlier touched the mark in Doha with 91.06m, an event where he also edged Chopra into second place.

Head-to-head rivalry heats up

This season, Weber now leads Chopra 3–1 in head-to-head meetings, having also beaten him in Poland earlier this year. However, Chopra won the Paris Diamond League where Weber had finished runner-up. Overall, the Indian still enjoys a commanding 15–5 edge in their career matchups dating back to 2016.

Chopra last won the Diamond League title in 2022 and has now finished runner-up in three successive finals in 2023, 2024 and 2025. Despite falling short this time, he remains one of the most consistent athletes on the circuit, not finishing outside the top two in any event since June 2021.

Looking ahead

Chopra will now turn his attention to the World Championships that will take place in Tokyo next month. He is the defending champion and will look to keep his throne. “At major championships, the medal matters more than the distance,” he said. “I’ll prepare well and give my best there.”

With Weber in red-hot form and several challengers waiting, the stage is set for another blockbuster contest when the world gathers in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.