Neeraj Chopra Aims To Make History At Lausanne Diamond League

A fit-again Neeraj Chopra can create another piece of history when he takes part in the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne on Friday. The 24-year-old Olympic champion javelin thrower has recovered from the "minor" groin strain injury he had suffered while winning a historic silver medal during the World Championships in Eugene, USA, last month. A top-three finish here will ensure Chopra a berth in the Diamond League Finals in Zurich on September 7 and 8 as he is at fourth spot in the standings with seven points. He had finished second in the Stockholm leg -- his first-ever podium -- on June 30.

The top six in the standings will make the Zurich Finals. The Lausanne event is the last leg which has men's javelin throw competition.

Whether Chopra continues his strong form this season, after the one-month rehabilitation, remains to be seen. He can become the first Indian to win a Diamond League Meeting as the eight-man field here is not so strong.

Before Chopra, discus thrower Vikas Gowda is the only Indian to have finished in top-three in a Diamond League Meeting. Gowda had finished second twice -- in New York in 2012 and in Doha in 2014 -- and third on two occasions -- Shanghai and Eugene in 2015.

Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of Czech Republic, who is taking part in Lausanne, leads the standings with 20 points, followed by Germany's Julian Weber (19 points) and world champion Anderson Peters (16 points) of Grenada.

Weber is not taking part in Lausanne, as also Peters who is recovering from an injury after he was assaulted inside a boat in his country earlier this month.

A struggling Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago, the 2012 Olympic champion, is also in the fray.

Three athletes who are below Chopra