India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra delivered a stellar efficiency on the Doha Diamond League, ending second with a large throw of 90.23 meters — his first-ever mark past the 90-metre barrier. Germany’s Julian Weber clinched the highest spot with a powerful throw of 91.06 metres, narrowly edging out Chopra in a high-quality contest. It turned out to be a magical evening for India’s golden boy as Chopra achieved one thing that followers and pundits have been ready years to witness, breaking the fabled 90-metre barrier in javelin throw, ultimately ending second within the Doha Diamond League meet on Friday. At the 2025 Doha Diamond League, two-time Olympic medallist Chopra hurled his javelin to a surprising distance of 90.23 meters on his third try, immediately taking the lead and electrifying the ambiance within the stadium.
90.23M JAVELIN THROW BY NEERAJ CHOPRA IN THE DIAMOND LEAGUE UNSTOPPABLE .#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/ktV1uwK7ek
— A D V A I T H (@SankiPagalAwara) May 16, 2025
This made him the primary Indian javelin thrower to cross the 90m mark in a world-level competitors and can be a brand new National Record for India, as Chopra improved on his current report of 89.94m set in June 2022 at Stockholm.
This throw wasn’t nearly numbers. For years, the 90m mark had grow to be a symbolic mountain for Chopra—a distance he got here near a number of occasions, typically ending simply quick with throws within the excessive 88s and 89s.
Despite successful Olympic gold at Tokyo, World Championship gold in Budapest, and ruling the Diamond League, one query lingered: When will Neeraj breach 90 meters?
That query has now been answered—with authority.
In entrance of a packed crowd and a aggressive subject that included world-class throwers, Chopra delivered when it mattered most.
The affect of latest coach Jan Zelezny was obvious as Chopra lastly crossed the match that he had tried a number of occasions in the previous few years. Chopra has just lately appointed three-time Olympic gold medallist Zelezny of the Czech Republic as his coach, changing Dr. Klaus Bartonietz.
After a gentle begin by which he reached 88.44m in his first try and adopted it up with a foul, Chopora unleashed the monster throw in his third try—his javelin slicing by means of the Doha evening sky and touchdown past the hallowed 90-metre mark. A roar erupted, not simply from the gang, however throughout social media and sports activities circles in India and past because the throw was marked 90.23m.
With this throw, Neeraj joins the elite membership of javelin throwers who’ve crossed the 90 m mark, which incorporates reigning Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, reaffirming his standing as one of many sport’s all-time greats. The aid and pleasure have been evident on his face—this was greater than only a statistic; it was a private milestone.
Neeraj fouled his fourth try, and simply when it regarded just like the Indian star would bag one other golden triumph in a Diamond League meet, Weber got here from behind and sneaked forward with an excellent throw. Chopra couldn’t enhance his finest effort in his sixth and remaining try, ending with 88.20m, and needed to be glad with second place.
It was a very good end result for Chopra because it took off the strain of crossing the 90m mark off his again, and the Indian star can now focus on defending his World Championship gold and on regaining the Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in 2028.
Meanwhile, India’s Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Kumar Jena had a forgettable night as he couldn’t get into the 80m vary on Friday. He completed eighth amongst 11 members with a finest throw of 78.60m.
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