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Rome. Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav is set to make his Diamond League debut in the Rome leg of the prestigious athletics series on June 4. The special thing is that the name of Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra is not included in the entry list of this meet. Neeraj Chopra, who is currently undergoing training and rehabilitation in Türkiye, has not started his 2026 athletics season yet.

He was last seen in action at the World Championships in Tokyo in September, where he competed despite a back injury and finished a disappointing eighth. In the absence of Neeraj, all eyes in Rome will be on Sachin Yadav, who has been included in the eight competitors for the men’s javelin throw event.

26-year-old Sachin will be participating in an international event for the first time after his brilliant performance in the World Championship last year. He finished fourth in the final with a best throw of 86.27m and narrowly missed winning a medal. He also won a silver medal in the Asian Championships last year. Sachin will compete against many great players in the Rome 2026 Diamond League, including former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, Julian Weber of Germany, Rio 2016 champion Thomas Rohler of Germany and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Jakub Vadlej of Czechia.

America’s Curtis Thompson, Poland’s David Wagner and Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage – currently the world’s top players – will also be in action. Sachin Yadav has already started his 2026 season on the domestic circuit with the Indian Athletics Series meet held in New Delhi in April, where he finished second with a best throw of 81.95m. Although the men’s javelin throw event will also be a part of the Rabat Diamond League to be held in Morocco on May 31, the entry list for this meet to be held in Morocco has not been announced yet.

On the other hand, India’s Parul Chaudhary, who holds national records in women’s 3000m, 5000m and 3000m steeplechase, is set to compete in the steeplechase race at the Shanghai Diamond League 2026 on May 16. This Indian athlete will participate in her third Diamond League meet. Parul, the reigning Asian Games 5000m champion, had finished 16th in Eugene in 2024 and sixth in Doha last year.

In Shanghai, she will face current world champion Faith Cherotich of Kenya, former world champion Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan and former Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda. The Shanghai meet will also mark the start of the 2026 Diamond League season, as the Doha leg – originally scheduled as the opener – has been moved from May 8 to June 19. Both Sachin and Parul will look to take advantage of the upcoming Diamond League meets and competition against top athletes from around the world to build their momentum for a busy season ahead; This season also includes the 2026 Asian Games.

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