Joining the 90m Club: Neeraj Chopra Finally Breaches 90m Barrier, But Heartbreakingly Finishes Second at Doha Diamond League

Indian javelin star sets new national record with 90.23m throw, but Germany’s Julian Weber edges him out with 91.06m

In a night that will go down in Indian athletics history, two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra shattered a long-standing psychological barrier by hurling the javelin 90.23 meters at the 2025 Doha Diamond League on Friday. The throw not only marked a new national record but also made him the first Indian ever to cross the coveted 90-metre mark in a world-class competition.

However, despite this milestone, Chopra fell heartbreakingly short of first place, as Germany’s Julian Weber edged past with a winning throw of 91.06 meters.

The 90-Metre Question, Finally Answered

For years, Chopra’s incredible consistency saw him dominate the sport, with Olympic gold in Tokyo (2021), World Championship gold in Budapest (2023), and multiple Diamond League victories. Yet, one number always loomed large over his career, 90 metres. His previous personal best of 89.94m, set at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League, had come painfully close, but the iconic threshold had remained elusive.

That changed in Doha.

On a cool evening under stadium lights, Chopra opened strong with 88.44m, fouled his second attempt, and then unleashed a third-round bomb, 90.23 meters that sliced through the sky and electrified the crowd. The stadium erupted, and the throw sent a wave of celebration across Indian sports circles and social media.

A New Era Under Jan Zelezny

This breakthrough also signals a promising start under Chopra’s new coach, Jan Zelezny, the legendary Czech thrower and three-time Olympic gold medallist. Zelezny replaced long-time mentor Dr. Klaus Bartonietz earlier this year, with Chopra hoping for that final push to cross the mythical mark. In Doha, that hope turned to reality.

While Chopra’s massive effort briefly put him in the lead, Germany’s Julian Weber, a consistent contender in the world circuit, responded with a 91.06m throw, securing gold and pushing Neeraj to second place.

Joining the 90m Club

With this performance, Neeraj Chopra enters the elite 90m club, joining the ranks of world champions like Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, Andreas Thorkildsen, and Zelezny himself. It reaffirms Chopra’s standing as not just India’s golden boy but one of the greatest javelin throwers of the modern era.

More than the placement, the night was about personal triumph, historic achievement, and a statement of intent ahead of upcoming global championships, including the Paris Olympics.

Despite finishing second, Chopra’s smile told the story. He didn’t just break a record. He broke through a ceiling that had hovered for years and did so on a world stage.