Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra is likely to miss the Rome leg of the Diamond League, scheduled for June 4, while compatriot and rising star Sachin Yadav will make his debut in the Italian capital.
Chopra, a two-time Olympic medalist who is undergoing rehabilitation in Turkey, is not on the roster for the Rome leg of the prestigious series.
While the field is set in Rome, the javelin world is also keeping a close eye on the Rabat Diamond League scheduled for May 31. While the entry list for Morocco has yet to be released, it is expected to feature another strong line-up.
Sachin Yadav’s inclusion comes on heels of the breakthrough period. He arrives in Rome after a superb performance at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where he famously beat Chopra to finish a respectable fourth. While Chopra struggled with back problems during that final, Yadav recorded a massive personal best of 86.27m, proving that he belongs among the greats of the sport.
The entry list for Rome confirms that Yadav will be tested by fire. While reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott is also not on the entry list, Sachin joins a world-class field of eight competitors, including:
- Julian Weber (GER): Consistent German powerhouse and perennial threat on stage.
- Jakub Vadlejch (CZE): Czech veteran star and reigning Diamond League champion.
- Anderson Peters (GRN): Former two-time world champion looking to regain his 90m form.
- Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI): The current world leader who stunned the circuit with a blast of 89.37m earlier this year.
- Thomas Rhler (GER): 2016 Olympic champion looking to start on a high.
- Curtis Thompson (USA) and Dawid Wegner (POL) complete the impressive line-up.
THE MISSING SPEAR
The main point of the circuit remains the absence of Neeraj Chopra. The two-time Olympic medalist has recovered from a back injury that plagued him at the World Championships last year.
Chopra will want to be 100 per cent before she returns to action this year, which also includes the Asian Games.
Chopra officially ended his coaching collaboration with the Czech legend Jan Železný. The split, described as mutual, came after a mixed 2025 season in which Chopra achieved his dream of breaking the 90m mark (90.23m in Doha) but finished a disappointing eighth at the World Championships.
Seeking a “fresh perspective” and greater logistical flexibility, Chopra reportedly moved away from the rigid international coaching structures of the past two years. In an even more significant strategic shift, the two-time Olympic medalist has launched his own sports management business, a company run alongside his family.
This leaves a vacuum that Yadav seems poised to fill. Earlier in April, Yadav signaled his readiness by finishing second at the Indian Athletics Series 3 in New Delhi with a solid performance of 81.95m.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
12 May 2026 11:33 IST
