‘Can throw... ’: What Neeraj Chopra said after finally breaching 90m but finishing second
Neeraj Chopra competes in the men's Javelin throw final during the IAAF Diamond League competition at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha | AFP
It seemed to be Neeraj Chopra’s night in Doha, having made history with his first 90-plus metre throw of his career, at the Diamond League Meeting. However, Germany's Julian Weber had other ideas.
Chopra, 27, recorded 90.23m in his third attempt, becoming the third Asian and 25th overall to achieve the feat. Current Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem (92.97m) of Pakistan and Chao-Tsun Cheng (91.36m) of Chinese Taipei are the two other Asians to have breached the elusive 90-m mark.
Chopra began with a throw of 88.44m, followed by a foul attempt. After the record-setting throw, his next three attempts were 80.56m, foul and 88.20m.
The Indian double Olympic medallist looked all set to clinch the gold, before Weber dashed his hopes with a 91.06m throw in his sixth and final attempt. It was the German's first 90m-plus effort as well, and it is the leading mark this season so far.
Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada took the bronze with a throw of 84.65m.
Chopra said it was a “bitter-sweet” experience. "My coach Jan Zelezny said today is the day when I can throw 90m. The wind helps and the weather is a little warm and that helps. I also told Julian that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him (Julian Weber).
"I believe I can throw farther than this in the coming events. We will work on some aspects and will throw 90m plus again this season," Chopra added.
India’s Kishore Jena finished eighth with a below-par throw of 78.60m.
Chopra is currently being coached by Jan Zelezny of Czechia, whose world record stands at 98.48m since 1996. The two came together in November last year.
What next for Neeraj Chopra?
Chopra will get another chance to better his record at the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial event in Chorzow, Poland, on May 23. He is also set to compete at the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czechia, on June 24 (he pulling out of the last two editions due to injuries).
The Doha leg is the third of the Diamond League series.
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