Diamond League: Alekna seeks revenge against Čeh

Lithuanian discus thrower Mykolas Alekna has an opportunity for redemption against his Slovenian rival Kristjan Čeh at the Diamond League event in Silesia. This highly anticipated matchup occurs just ten days after the European Championships final in Birmingham, where Čeh delivered a dominant performance.

In Birmingham, Čeh threw four times beyond 70 meters, setting a championship record of 72.51 meters with his third attempt. He seized control of the competition early, with his first throw reaching 70.83 meters. Alekna, meanwhile, earned the silver medal with a best throw of 69.89 meters, unable to seriously challenge Čeh's dominance. The gap between Čeh and the bronze medalist, Henrik Janssen, was nearly three meters.

Alekna, 23, is aiming to respond in Silesia. He made a strong comeback this season after undergoing surgery for a torn pectoral muscle in March. In his first competition back in Estonia, he threw 70.60 meters, defeating Čeh. Subsequently, at the Lithuanian Championships in Palanga, Alekna achieved a throw of 72.65 meters, with four of his attempts exceeding the 70-meter mark. This performance ranks as the fourth-best of his career, placing him among the world's elite.

The Silesia event also holds significant weight for Alekna's pursuit of a spot in the Diamond League final. Having won the overall series last season, Alekna has already won a stage in Eugene this year. Another victory would guarantee him a ticket to the final in Brussels on September 4-5. Čeh has already secured his place in the final. The competition in Silesia will feature a strong field, including Olympic champion Daniel Ståhl, World Champion D. Ståhl, and European Championship bronze medalist H. Janssen.