Neeraj Chopra Breaches 90m Mark, Second Place at Doha Diamond League 2025

Doha, May 16, 2025 — In a defining moment for Indian athletics, Neeraj Chopra etched his name in the annals of sports history by breaching the 90-meter mark for the first time in his career at the Doha Diamond League 2025. The Olympic gold medallist unleashed a phenomenal throw of 90.23 meters, a new personal best and national record, becoming the first Indian ever to enter the elite “90m club” in javelin.

Despite achieving this long-awaited milestone, Chopra narrowly missed the top podium spot. Germany’s Julian Weber snatched victory in the final moments with a massive throw of 91.06 meters, forcing Chopra to settle for a well-fought second place.

National record @Neeraj_chopra1 https://t.co/7q5LIULxVE

— Athletics Federation of India (@afiindia) May 16, 2025

The event, held at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium, saw Chopra open strong with an 88.44m throw. A foul in the second attempt didn’t dampen his rhythm, as he roared back with a sensational third attempt that saw the javelin soar past the golden barrier. That 90.23m throw was met with thunderous applause, not just from the stadium crowd but also from millions of fans back home.

Although Chopra’s later throws (80.56m, foul, 88.20m) didn’t surpass his best, his landmark third attempt was enough to cement his position among the sport’s global elite. Only 24 other javelin throwers in history have crossed the 90-meter threshold — and now, Chopra joins that prestigious list.

This historic performance comes under the watchful guidance of his new coach, Jan Železný, a javelin legend himself and a triple Olympic gold medallist. Under Železný’s mentorship, Chopra has refined his technique, focused his mindset, and elevated his competitive edge.

“I’ve been chasing the 90-meter mark for a long time. It feels surreal to finally achieve it,” Chopra said post-event. “This is just the beginning. There’s still more work to be done as we build toward the World Championships and Olympics.”

Chopra’s journey from a small town in Haryana to global acclaim is already an inspiration to a generation. With this historic throw, he has once again reminded the world of India’s growing stature in global athletics.

As the Diamond League season continues, all eyes will be on Neeraj Chopra — not just for medals, but for the history he continues to write.

image credit: https://x.com/afiindia/status/1923440501119741969