Neeraj Chopra Breaks 90m Barrier, Finishes Second in Doha
India’s Olympic and World Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra created history at the 2025 Doha Diamond League by breaching the elusive 90-meter mark. Although his remarkable effort wasn’t enough to win the event, it marked a personal and national milestone, making Chopra only the third Asian ever to surpass the mark.
Neeraj Chopra’s Historic Throw
On his third attempt of the evening, Neeraj Chopra launched the javelin to a distance of 90.23 meters. This broke his previous national record of 89.94 meters set in 2022. With this feat, Chopra becomes only the 25th man in global athletics history to cross the 90-meter threshold in men’s javelin. His long-standing goal of crossing this elite mark was finally realized, reaffirming his place among the world’s best.
His coach, Jan Zelezny, who still holds the world record at 98.48 meters, was among those watching closely as Chopra joined an exclusive list of 90m-plus athletes.
Julian Weber’s Last-Minute Triumph
While Chopra’s effort put him in the lead for much of the competition, it was Germany’s Julian Weber who snatched gold with a dramatic final throw of 91.06 meters. His clutch performance in the sixth round denied Chopra the top podium spot and marked a personal best for the German as well.
The neck-and-neck duel between the two athletes electrified the crowd and brought one of the most competitive Diamond League javelin events in recent memory to a spectacular finish.
Chopra’s Reaction and Future Plans
Despite finishing second, Chopra expressed satisfaction with his performance. “I can throw more than 90m,” he declared after the event, signaling that this was only the beginning. Having recently recovered from a groin injury, Chopra’s comeback has set him on a strong trajectory heading into the World Athletics Championships later this year.
His 2025 season has now officially begun with a bang, and expectations will be even higher as he looks to cross 91 meters next.
Other Indian Performers Shine
Among the other Indian athletes competing in Doha, javelin thrower Kishore Jena managed a season-best of 78.60 meters, securing the 8th position. In the women’s 3000m steeplechase, Parul Chaudhary set a new national record of 9:13.39 and finished sixth, earning praise for her performance against a strong international field.
With this outing, Indian athletics made a powerful statement on the global stage, driven by Chopra’s historic throw and rising talent across track and field events.
