Neeraj Chopra's return to the Paris Diamond League on June 20 is highly anticipated, especially with the renewed rivalry against Germany's Julian Weber taking center stage. The event, held at the Stade Sebastien-Charlety, marks Chopra's second Diamond League appearance this season, his first being in Doha. This Paris appearance is particularly significant as it is his first time competing in the Paris Diamond League after eight years, his last outing was in 2017.
The Indian Javelin star, who skipped the 2024 edition to prepare for the Paris Olympics, is eager to clinch his first major title of the season. He has consistently finished in the top two in international competitions since June 2021, a streak he will be keen to maintain. However, Weber has proven to be a formidable opponent, edging out Chopra in recent competitions.
In May 2025, at the Doha Diamond League, Chopra recorded a personal best and a new national record with an impressive 90.23m throw. Despite this milestone, Weber secured the top spot with a world-leading throw of 91.06m. The two athletes again faced off at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland, where Weber again took first place with 86.12m, while Chopra finished second with 84.14m under wet conditions.
The Paris Diamond League promises a high-quality competition with a seven-man lineup that includes Grenada's two-time world champion, Anderson Peters. This event will be a crucial test for Chopra as he aims to regain momentum at a venue where he won a silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Only Weber and Peters have personal bests exceeding Chopra's, with Weber at 91.44m and Peters at 93.07m, making them serious contenders.
Looking beyond the Paris Diamond League, Chopra's schedule includes the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 24 and the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5. These events are part of his preparation for the Diamond League Final in Zurich on August 27-28, where top javelin throwers with the most points will compete.
The competition in Paris is not just about individual milestones but also about gaining crucial points for the Diamond League Final. Chopra, who won the Doha Diamond League in 2022, aims to improve his second-place finishes from 2023 and 2024. With the world's best athletes competing, the Paris Diamond League is set to be a thrilling event.