WATCH: Neeraj Chopra creates HISTORY, crosses 90m mark for first time ever
New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra clocked a notable milestone at the Doha Diamond League, heaving the javelin 90.23 meters, his first attempt over 90 meters to finish second. He was narrowly outdone by Germany’s Julian Weber who heaved 91.06 meters. Chopra’s effort, clocked on his third attempt, was a highlight of the meet, living up to long-standing expectations.
Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra set a new national record and became the first Indian to exceed 90 meters in a world-class event by overcoming his old record of 89.94 meters done in June 2022.
Chopra’s recent throw was significant not just for its distance, but also because it represented overcoming a long-standing mental hurdle. He had repeatedly approached the 90-meter mark, consistently falling just short in the 88- and 89-meter range.
Neeraj Chopra’s impressive achievements, including Olympic and World Championship gold medals and Diamond League dominance, have left one question unanswered: Will he ever throw a javelin over 90 meters?
With the recent addition of three-time Olympic gold medalist Jan Zelezny to his coaching staff, replacing Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, Neeraj Chopra achieved a long-sought-after competitive milestone. Zelezny’s influence was evident in Chopra’s success.
Chopra’s strong start, with an initial throw of 88.44 meters followed by a foul, culminated in a spectacular 90.23-meter throw on his third attempt. This impressive achievement generated widespread excitement among spectators and within the Indian sports community and internationally.
Neeraj’s impressive throw, exceeding 90 meters, places him among the sport’s top javelin throwers, a group that includes Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem. This achievement represents a significant personal triumph beyond simply a numerical record.
Neeraj’s fourth throw was a foul, preventing a potential Diamond League victory. Weber overtook Chopra with a superior throw in the final rounds. Chopra’s final attempt of 88.20m secured him second place.
Chopra’s strong performance alleviated the pressure of achieving a 90-meter throw, allowing him to focus on retaining his World Championship title and aiming for Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028.
Indian javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena, a silver medalist at the Asian Games, underperformed in Friday’s competition. He achieved a best throw of 78.60 meters, placing eighth out of eleven competitors and failing to reach the 80-meter mark.
News