Neeraj Chopra Breaks 90m Barrier, Finishes Second in Doha Diamond League
Neeraj Chopra shattered the 90m barrier for the first time in his career with a 90.23m throw at the Doha Diamond League, finishing second behind Germany’s Julian Weber.
Making his 2025 season debut, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra achieved a career milestone by breaching the 90-metre mark on his third attempt. His best effort of 90.23m not only marked a new national record but also made him the third Asian ever to surpass the 90m threshold in men’s javelin.
Despite the historic throw, Chopra had to settle for second place after Germany’s Julian Weber stunned the field with a massive 91.06m throw in his final attempt, claiming top honours in a dramatic finish.
“It’s a bittersweet moment,” Chopra said. “I’m happy to cross 90m, but I believe I can throw even farther. We’ll keep working hard this season.”
Weber’s performance in Doha was a masterclass in composure and consistency. After beginning with a modest 82.83m, he steadily improved across rounds, capping his night with a sensational 91.06m in his last attempt—his first time crossing the 90m mark as well.
This places Weber as the 26th male javelin thrower in history to achieve the feat, pushing Chopra into second despite the Indian’s record-setting performance.
Chopra’s 90.23m surpassed his previous national record of 89.94m set at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League. The performance now places him among an elite club that includes Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem (92.97m) and Chinese Taipei’s Chao-Tsun Cheng (91.36m).
It also marked his first major outing under the guidance of Czech legend Jan Zelezny, the world record holder and his new coach. Zelezny had predicted Chopra would break the 90m mark in Doha, citing favourable conditions.
“My coach told me today is the day I can do it,” Chopra said. “The wind and weather helped. I also told Julian [Weber] we can throw 90m tonight. I’m glad we both did.”
India’s Kishore Jena, also competing in the event, struggled to find rhythm. He managed a best of 78.60m, which earned him eighth place. Despite a shaky start, he managed to qualify for the final three attempts but failed to pose a podium threat.
The 90m mark has long been the gold standard in men’s javelin. For years, Chopra had been knocking on the door, with throws consistently hovering near the milestone. Since his 89.94m effort in 2022, anticipation for him to join the 90m club had steadily grown.
On Friday night, when the moment finally arrived, Chopra celebrated with quiet resolve—an understated nod to a long-awaited achievement.
