Liveblog: Pathirage pushes Neeraj Chopra to 2nd at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra, a two-Olympic and two-time World Championships medallist, has a season best of 85.83m while Pathirage starts as the favourite with a SB of 92.62m.

Neeraj Chopra and Rumesh Pathirage will go head-to-head once again at the Lausanne Diamond League after their showdown at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games recently where the Sri Lankan javelin thrower ended with a gold while the Indian took silver. The duo is part of a nine-man field which is missing several top stars like Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem and Germany’s Julian Weber.

Neeraj is yet to his peak after a return from long injury. The two-Olympic and two-time World Championships medallist has a season best of 85.83m while Pathirage starts as the favourite with a SB of 92.62m. “I can’t say my fitness is there like before. But I’m getting there slowly,” the 28-year-old Neeraj had said at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

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Besides winning Commonwealth Games gold, the 23-year-old Pathirage has also triumphed in the Doha Diamond League meeting and the Rome Diamond League meet.

Scroll down to read our real-time updates from the Lausanne Diamond League

Live Updates
Aug 22, 2026 12:18 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra's lead is shortlived! Rumesh Pathirage sends the spear 88.14m to take back the lead again and send Neeraj Chopra to second!

Pritish Raj adds: It takes two to tango or in this case three. Pathirage has crossed Neeraj's mark with 88.14m to regain the lead again from Neeraj.

Aug 22, 2026 12:14 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra leads with a throw of 88.05m! He was unhappy with his firts attempt. But his second attempt is the kind he raises both hands heavenwards for!

Pritish Raj adds: Neeraj Chopra!!! He steps up and with a season best. 88.05m for the double Olympic medallist in the second attempt and he takes the lead

Aug 22, 2026 12:10 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Pathirage has his second attempt! And it's even bigger than his first attempt! So Rumesh Pathirage now has the two best throws today!

Pathirage sends the spear 87.06 metres after a first throw of 85.99m.

Aug 22, 2026 12:07 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Czech javelin thrower Jakub Vadlejch, who won the silver medal behind Neeraj Chopra at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with a throw of 86.67 meters, has his first attempt and he manages a 77.32 metre throw on his first attempt

Aug 22, 2026 12:05 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Here we go! First sighting of Neeraj Chopra on the runway! And Neeraj throws 83.54 metre! He's second behind Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage!

He does not look too happy with his first attempt there!

Aug 22, 2026 12:04 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

No mark from Curtis Thompson, but Anderson Peters gets on the board with a first throw of 77.96 metres. Provisionally moves to second.

Pritish Raj adds: Anderson Peters enters the top three now with a throw of 84.76m in his second attempt.

Aug 22, 2026 12:03 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

A pace-setting first attempt of a throw from the man to beat! Sri Lanka's Pathirage throws 85.99 metres! Immediately sets a marker!

Pritish Raj writes: Rumesh Pathirage and his big throws. The man is in incredible form this season and on this first throw at Lausanne takes the lead with 85.99m throw

Aug 22, 2026 12:02 AM IST
Neeraj Chopra LIVE at Lausanne Diamond League

Here we go! Another edition of the Neeraj Chopra vs Rumesh Pathirage begins!

Aug 21, 2026 11:47 PM IST
HOLA

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Lausanne Diamond League's javelin throw event where Neeraj Chopra will be in action shortly.

‘Past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected’: Neeraj Chopra on injury comeback

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has opened up about the struggles of returning from a long injury layoff, saying the past 10 months have tested him in ways he never expected.

“There are throws that travel far, and then there are moments that carry the weight of an entire journey. This one means so much more than the distance,” Neeraj wrote on Instagram after announcing his comeback with a statement silver medal at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow.

“The past 10 months have tested me in ways I never expected. Recovering from multiple injuries, rebuilding my body, finding my rhythm again, and learning to be patient when all I wanted was to compete. I was training every day without knowing if I would even have a season to compete this year,” he added.

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