MUMBAI: Neeraj Chopra, the first Indian to win a Diamond Trophy and the first Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field, will begin the defence of his javelin throwing title on Friday at the Qatar Sports Club in Doha.
One of the season's most prominent sporting competitions will include Chopra among a host of other victors.
Eldhose Paul, the gold medalist in the triple leap at the Commonwealth Games, will compete in the Doha meet alongside Pedro Pichardo, the current Olympic champion from Portugal, and Andy Diaz Hernandez, the current Diamond League champion from Cuba.
Chopra will compete for the first time since his spectacular 88.44-meter throw in Zurich, which won him the 2022 Diamond Trophy. The season-opening encounter will include a cast of opponents acquainted to his title defence.
Chopra's biggest rivals this season will include the reigning world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada (personal best: 93.07m), the winner of the 2022 Doha meet, Jakub Vadlejch from the Czech Republic (personal best: 90.88m), Julian Weber from Germany (personal best: 89.54m), and former Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago (personal best: 90.16m).
In addition to Chopra, a number of other Olympic and world winners will compete in the Doha season opener. Shericka Jackson of Jamaica, who has won five Olympic medals, former 200-meter world champion Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain, and a talented American quartet made up of Melissa Jefferson, Abby Steiner, Twanisha Terry, and Sha'Carri Richardson will compete in the women's 100-meter event.
There will be a strong field in the 200-meter men's race, including current Olympic champion Andre De Grasse of Canada, 400-meter world champion Michael Norman of the United States, 100-meter world champion and Olympic silver medalist Fred Kerley of the United States, and 200-meter silver medalist Kenny Bednarek of the United States.
The yearly Diamond League, which occupies the top division of World Athletics' one-day meeting events, is the most prestigious series in track and field. 13 events make up the 2023 Diamond League, beginning with the competition in Doha and ending with the two-day Diamond League Final on September 16–17 in Eugene.
The 2023 Diamond League will be live-streamed on JioCinema and Sports18 in India.
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