India’s javelin star Neeraj Chopra etched his name in history on 16 May 2025 at the Doha Diamond League. He finally breached the elusive 90m barrier for the first time in his career. With a sensational throw of 90.23 meters in his third attempt, he not only shattered his own national record but also became the first Indian and third Asian to surpass the 90m mark in men’s javelin throw. However, he finished second in the competition despite this historic feat, as Germany’s Julian Weber clinched victory with a personal best of 91.06m in his final attempt.
Doha Diamond League Filled With Notable Performances
The men’s javelin event at Doha was packed with top-tier talent, featuring 11 world-class throwers. Chopra began his series with a strong first throw of 88.44m, followed by a foul in his second attempt. His third throw, however, was a record-breaking throw of 90.23m. However, the drama unfolded when Julian Weber was also someone who had never crossed the 90m mark, unleashed a throw of 91.06 to snatch the gold. Anderson Peters secured third place while India’s Kishore Jena finished eighth.
Neeraj Chopra Describes His Achievement As “Bittersweet”
After the event, Neeraj Chopra described his achievement and said, “I am very happy with the 90m mark, but it’s a little bit of a bittersweet experience actually. But never mind, I and my coach are still working on some aspects of my throw. We started working together only in February this year. I am still learning things”
“He doesn’t normally go to the Diamond Leagues, but he came with me because he told me that today is the day to achieve 90m. I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better, we will also work on some aspects and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships.”
90m Mark, A Long-Awaited Milestone
Chopra’s journey to the 90m mark has been years in the making. Ever since bursting onto the global stage in Tokyo, he has consistently missed the 90m mark. For seasons, his mark remained untouched, with him setting a previous national record of 89.94m. This achievement is not just a personal triumph but also a landmark moment for Indian athletes and the Asian javelin community.
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