Doha Diamond League: Neeraj Chopra will start preparing for Olympics from Diamond League, Kishore Jena will make his debut

Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra will begin his preparations for the Paris Olympics through the one-day first leg of the Doha Diamond League on Friday. India’s javelin throw star Chopra, the reigning world and Asian Games champion, will face former world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada and Olympic and world championship medalist Yakub Valesh of the Czech Republic.

Asian Games silver medallist Indian Kishore Jena will make his Diamond League debut. His personal best is 87.54 metres while Chopra’s best is 89.94 metres which is also a national record. European champion Julian Weber of Germany is also among the ten players who will take part in the league. After this, the second leg of the league will be held in Morocco on 19 May.

Chopra is also the defending champion here, having defeated Valesh and Peters in 2023. Chopra said in a release issued by the Sports Authority of India, “Success depends on teamwork. My coach and physio have contributed immensely. The coach reviews my technique and tells me what will suit me. We also have a strength training specialist.”

Peters threw 93.07 here in 2022. Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Wallace is the 2023 Diamond League champion and here in 2022 he threw 90.88 meters. Chopra has won three different stages of the Diamond League and won the Champions Trophy in 2022.

After this, Chopra will play in India for the first time in three years. He will participate in the National Federation Cup Senior Athletics Championship in Bhubaneswar from 12 to 15 May. Jena will also participate in it. The qualifying round of men’s javelin throw will be held on May 14 and the final on May 15.