Neeraj Chopra Breaks 90-Metre Barrier but Finishes Second at Doha Diamond League 2025

India’s top javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made history at the Doha Diamond League 2025 on Friday by throwing over 90 meters for the first time. He recorded a massive 90.23-meter throw, setting a new national record and becoming the first Indian to cross this milestone. Despite this incredible performance, he finished second in the event.

The competition took place at the Qatar Sports Club on May 16. Neeraj started the evening with an impressive 88.44-meter throw, which was the best in the world for the season at that point. His second attempt was a foul, but he came back stronger in the third round with a throw of 90.23 meters. This distance beat his previous personal best of 89.94 meters, which he had achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022. Over the years, Neeraj had thrown over 89 meters several times but had narrowly missed the 90-meter mark until now.

Although the 90-meter throw was a major breakthrough, Neeraj had to settle for second place. Germany’s Julian Weber won the event with a personal best of 91.06 meters, achieved on his final throw of the evening. Grenada’s Anderson Peters, the 2022 world champion, came in third with a best throw of 85.64 meters. This outcome mirrored previous competitions where Neeraj delivered strong performances but still finished behind by small margins.

Neeraj’s new record has placed him among an elite group of athletes. He is now the 25th athlete in history to throw beyond 90 meters in the men’s javelin event. His throw is the third-longest by an Asian athlete. Only Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, with 92.97 meters, and Chao-Tsun Cheng from Chinese Taipei, with 91.36 meters, have gone farther. This achievement is a huge milestone not only for Neeraj but also for Indian athletics, which has rarely seen such success on the global stage in field events.

Neeraj is currently training under Jan Zelezny, the legendary Czech athlete who still holds the world record of 98.48 meters set in 1996. Zelezny is considered one of the greatest javelin throwers of all time and has five of the top ten throws in history. With Zelezny as his coach, Neeraj has been working on fine-tuning his technique and building strength. The coach’s decision to attend the Doha event in person proved valuable, as it was a day of high expectations and even higher achievements.

The Doha Diamond League 2025 marked the first major competition of the year for Neeraj Chopra. Despite finishing second, his confidence remains strong. This performance gives him a solid foundation for upcoming events, including more Diamond League meets and the 2025 World Championships. His goal is now to improve even further and aim for top finishes in every event.

Julian Weber’s win was also significant. Like Neeraj, he had never crossed the 90-meter line before. Both athletes pushed each other to perform at their best. Their performances show how strong the competition in men’s javelin has become, with more athletes now capable of breaking the 90-meter barrier.

Another Indian athlete, Kishore Jena, also participated in the event. He finished eighth with a best throw of 78.60 meters. This was his second appearance in a Diamond League event. In his previous outing in Doha last year, he had finished ninth. His presence in such top-tier events shows India’s growing strength in the sport.

Neeraj’s achievement in Doha is a proud moment for India. Breaking the 90-meter barrier has been a long-standing goal for him. Reaching it will inspire many young athletes back home and bring more attention to field sports in the country. With the guidance of a world-class coach and a clear focus, Neeraj seems ready to continue making headlines.

As the 2025 athletics season progresses, fans can expect more big throws from the Olympic champion. His journey continues with eyes set on higher goals and stronger performances. With a new personal best and national record to his name, Neeraj Chopra has started the year on a high note.