Zurich. Recently crowned world champion Neeraj Chopra will try to maintain his unbeaten streak in the men's javelin throw competition among renowned players in the prestigious Diamond League Meet on Thursday. Chopra won her maiden World Championship title with a throw of 88.17m in Budapest on Sunday. He won the silver medal in the 2022 season. The Indian superstar became only the third javelin thrower in history to win both the Olympic and World Championships titles, after world record holder Jan Zelejny of Czech Republic and Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway.

Zelejny won Olympic gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2000, while winning world championship titles in 1993, 1995 and 2001. Thorkildsen won gold medals at the 2008 Olympics and 2009 World Championships. Twenty-five year old Chopra has been unbeaten this season. She topped two Diamond League meets in Doha (May 5) and Lausanne (June 30) before her World Championship triumph.

Jacob, Weber and Peters will be in front of Neeraj

When Chopra competes in Zurich four days after becoming world champion, he will be up against familiar rivals like Jakub Vadláj of the Czech Republic (bronze winner in Budapest with 86.67m), Julian Weber of Germany and two-time world champion Andersen Peters of Granada . Silver medalist in Budapest Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan will not be in Zurich. Chopra had won the Diamond League final trophy last year. He is third in the table with 16 points from two events in the current season. Wadlech (21 points from three events) and Weber (19 points from three events) are in first and second place respectively.

Peters is in fourth place with 15 points from three events

The experienced Peters, who had struggled this season, failed to qualify for the final round at the World Championships. He is in fourth place with 15 points in three events. The Zurich leg is the last leg of the Diamond League series, where the men's javelin throw event will be held. Its final will be held on September 16-17 in Eugene (USA) where the Diamond League champion will be crowned.

Neeraj had won the title in Zurich

Only the top six players on the points table will compete in Eugene. Chopra won the title in the final in Zurich in 2022. Long jumper Murali Sreesankar will also be seen presenting a challenge here. He will try to prove himself after failing to qualify for the final stage at the World Championships.

Sreeshankar is at third place with 10 points

Sreeshankar's personal best performance in the current season is 8.41 metres. He had finished 22nd in the qualification stage of the World Championship with an effort of 7.74 metres. He is third in the long jump table of this Diamond League season with 10 points in two events.