Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra etched his name into the history books once again by becoming the first Indian athlete to surpass the 90-metre mark in an international javelin competition. Competing at the Doha Diamond League 2025, Chopra delivered a remarkable throw of 90.23 metres, surpassing his previous national record of 89.94 metres set in Stockholm in 2022.
Despite the record-breaking effort, Chopra finished second in the competition, as Germany’s Julian Weber secured first place with an impressive 91.06m throw. Both athletes crossed the elusive 90-metre barrier for the first time in their careers, making the event a landmark occasion in global javelin history.
Chopra’s achievement sparked nationwide celebration, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising the star athlete on social media platform X. “A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90 m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud,” he posted.
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also lauded Chopra, calling him “India’s golden star.” In his message, Chouhan noted the significance of the milestone: “This is not only an unprecedented achievement in his personal career but also a proud moment for the entire nation.”
Speaking after the event, Chopra expressed a mix of pride and disappointment. “It is a little bit bittersweet. I am very happy for the 90m, but this second place — it actually happened to me also when I competed in Turku and Stockholm. I threw 89.94, and I was always second. And also here. I broke the national record and got second today. But I am very happy also for Julian Weber. He threw 91, so we both broke 90m for the first time today. We have been trying this for so many years, so finally, we managed to get it,” he said.
Chopra also reflected on his past physical struggles, revealing that persistent groin issues had previously held him back. “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,” he added.
Looking ahead, the 26-year-old remains optimistic about the rest of the season, which includes major events such as the World Championships. “We will also work on some aspects, and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year,” he said.
Chopra’s achievement in Doha not only marks a personal triumph but also raises hopes for further success in the global athletics arena, reinforcing his status as one of the world’s elite javelin throwers.
