No Neeraj Chopra in Rome entry list, Sachin Yadav set for Diamond League debut

Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra is likely to miss the Rome leg of the Diamond League, scheduled for June 4, while his compatriot and rising star, Sachin Yadav, will make his debut in the Italian capital city.

The entry list for the Rome leg of the prestigious series doesn’t feature Chopra, the two-time Olympic medalist currently undergoing rehabilitation in Trkiye.

While the Rome field is set, the javelin world is also keeping a close eye on the Rabat Diamond League scheduled for May 31. Though the entry list for Morocco is yet to be released, it is expected to feature another heavy-hitting lineup.

Sachin Yadav’s inclusion comes on the heels of a breakthrough period. He arrives in Rome following a stellar performance at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, where he famously out-thrown Chopra to finish a creditable fourth. While Chopra struggled with back issues during that final, Yadav registered a massive personal best of 86.27m, proving he belongs among the giants of the sport.

The Rome entry list confirms that Yadav will be tested by fire. While reigning world champion Keshorn Walcott is also not in the entry list, Sachin joins a world-class field of eight competitors, including:

• Julian Weber (GER): The consistent German powerhouse and perennial podium threat.
• Jakub Vadlejch (CZE): The veteran Czech star and reigning Diamond League champion.
• Anderson Peters (GRN): The former double world champion looking to regain his 90m form.
• Rumesh Tharanga Pathirage (SRI): The current world leader, who stunned the circuit with an 89.37m blast earlier this year.
• Thomas Rhler (GER): The 2016 Olympic champion looking to start on a high.
• Curtis Thompson (USA) and Dawid Wegner (POL) round out the formidable lineup.

THE MISSING SPEAR

The absence of Neeraj Chopra remains the talking point of the circuit. The two-time Olympic medalist has recovered from a back injury that troubled him in the World Championships last year.

Chopra will want to be 100 percent before he returns to action this year, which will also feature the Asian Games.

Chopra officially terminated his coaching partnership with Czech legend Jan Zelezny. The split, described as mutual, came after a mixed 2025 season where Chopra achieved his dream of breaking the 90m barrier (90.23m in Doha) but finished a disappointing eighth at the World Championships.

Seeking a “fresh perspective” and more logistical flexibility, Chopra has reportedly moved away from the rigid international coaching structures of the last two years. In an even more significant strategic shift, the double Olympic medalist has launched his own sports management venture, a company managed alongside his family.

This leaves a vacuum that Yadav seems ready to fill. Earlier this April, Yadav signaled his readiness by finishing second at the Indian Athletics Series 3 in New Delhi with a solid 81.95m effort.

– Ends