Doha diamond league: Neeraj, joined by three Indian teammates

Star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra will headline a strong Indian contingent at the Doha leg of the Diamond League on May 16, marking the country’s highest-ever representation at a single Diamond League event. 

Neeraj will be joined by Kishore Jena in the men’s javelin throw, Gulveer Singh in the men’s 5000m, and Parul Chaudhary in the women’s 3000m steeplechase. This will be Gulveer Singh’s debut in the prestigious series, while Chaudhary holds the national record in her event.

Chopra, who won the Doha meet in 2023 with a throw of 88.67m and finished second in 2024 with 88.36m, returns to one of his most successful venues. His compatriot Kishore Jena, who also competed in 2024, had finished ninth with a mark of 76.31m.

The men’s javelin competition in Doha promises to be a high-profile contest, featuring a star-studded lineup including two-time world champion Anderson Peters (Grenada), 2024 Doha winner Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic), Germany’s Julian Weber and Max Dehning, Kenya’s Julius Yego, and Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean.

Neeraj opened his season in April with a throw of 84.52m at the Potch Invitational Meet in Potchefstroom, but Doha will serve as his first major international outing of the year. Traditionally, Doha has been a key curtain-raiser for javelin throw in the Diamond League, especially with the discipline not featured in the two Chinese legs of the season.

The Olympic gold medallist is working under the guidance of world record holder Jan Železný this season. Doha, known for its favorable conditions, has often seen big performances in javelin, and it will be an important benchmark as Neeraj builds towards the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.