India’s Neeraj Chopra (PTI Photo) Neeraj Chopra is expected to miss the Rome leg of the Diamond League on June 4, with the Indian star continuing his rehabilitation program in Türkiye after the back problems that plagued him last season.Rome’s entry list for the prestigious event does not include the two-time Olympic medalist, making his absence one of the biggest talking points ahead of the competition. Attention is also turning towards the Rabat Diamond League, which will take place on May 31, although the list of participants for the event has not yet been announced.In Chopra’s absence, Indian javelin thrower Sachin Yadav is set to make his Diamond League debut in Rome after a breakthrough period in his career.Yadav earned widespread attention after his impressive performance at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where he finished fourth and narrowly defeated Chopra in the final. While Chopra struggled with back problems during the event, Yadav produced a personal best throw of 86.27m to establish himself among the rising names of the world javelin.However, the challenge in Rome will be huge. The field includes some elite names such as Julian Weber, Jakub Vadlejch, Anderson Peters, Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage and Thomas Rohler. Curtis Thompson and Dawid Wegner are also part of the lineup.Interestingly, reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott is also missing from Rome’s list.Meanwhile, Chopra is focusing on regaining full fitness before returning to competition in a season that also includes the Asian Games. The Indian star recently ended his coaching partnership with Czech legend Jan Železný after the 2025 mixed campaign.Although Chopra achieved the much-anticipated milestone of breaking the 90m mark with a throw of 90.23m in Doha, he suffered a disappointing eighth place finish at the World Championships.The Olympic champion has also reportedly moved away from rigid overseas coaching systems to start a sports management business alongside his family, signaling a new phase in his career.With Chopra working his way back, Rome could provide the perfect opportunity for Sachin Yadav to introduce himself on one of athletics’ biggest stages.
