New Delhi: India’s poster boy Neeraj Chopra finally breached the elusive 90m frontier with a 90.23m throw but the star Indian athlete had to settle for a second place behind Germany’s Julian Weber in a dramatic men’s javelin contest at the prestigious Doha Diamond League on Friday.
The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist sent his spear 90.23m in his third attempt after a foul second attempt and a 88.44m throw in the opening attempt. After the 90.23m throw, his next three series were 80.56m, foul and 88.20m.Chopra joined a list of javelin throwers becoming the third Asian and 25th overall to achieve the feat. He became the first Indian to reach to the mark.
Watch the gigantic throw
Neeraj Chopra joins the 90M 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 🔥 👏 🇮🇳 Neeraj Chopra finally broke the 90m barrier for the first time in his career, with a throw of 90.23 at the Doha Diamond League. #NeerajChopra pic.twitter.com/zopYfa45Xk
— Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) May 16, 2025
Weber takes the top spot
The star athlete was in the lead till the last but Weber took the top spot with his sixth and final throw, measuring 91.06m. It was Weber’s first 90m-plus effort as well, and he became the 26th javelin thrower to breach the coveted mark. Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with his opening throw of 84.65m.
‘I am very happy to have breached the 90m mark but it’s a bitter-sweet experience,’ Chopra said later.
‘My coach Jan Zelezny said today is the day when I can throw 90m. The wind helps and weather is little warm and that helps. I also told Julian that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him (Julian)”, he added. The other Indian in the fray, Kishore Jena finished eighth with a below-par throw of 78.60m.
(With PTI inputs)
Doha Diamond League: India’s poster boy Neeraj Chopra finally breached the elusive 90m frontier with a 90.23m throw. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
