New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to celebrate Neeraj Chopra finally breaching the 90m mark.
“A spectacular feat! Congratulations to Neeraj Chopra for breaching the 90 m mark at Doha Diamond League 2025 and achieving his personal best throw. This is the outcome of his relentless dedication, discipline and passion. India is elated and proud,” PM Modi posted on X.
Neeraj Chopra finally threw 90.23m, but the trailblazing Indian had to settle for second place behind Germany’s Julian Weber in a dramatic men’s javelin contest at the Doha leg of the prestigious Diamond League Meeting series on Friday.
The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist Indian sent his spear 90.23m in his third attempt to join a list of javelin throwers, led by his current coach Jan Zelezny of Czechia, who had recorded 90 m-plus efforts. He became the third Asian and 25th overall to achieve the feat.
However, Weber turned the tables and took the top spot with his sixth and final throw, measuring 91.06m. Chopra was leading before Weber’s final attempt.
It was Germany’s first 90 m-plus effort as well, and he became the 26th javelin thrower to breach the coveted mark. His effort was the world-leading mark this season so far.
Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with his opening throw of 84.65m.
Chopra began the contest with a throw of 88.44m, followed by a foul attempt. He then sent his spear past the elusive 90m mark to the collective sigh of relief of the whole country. His next three series were 80.56m, foul, and 88.20m.
For the last nearly five years, Chopra has been asked several times when he would breach the 90m mark. He answered those questions on Friday through his spear, though he had said many times earlier that the result is more important than the 90m mark.
His feat came six months after joining hands with Zelezny in November last year, though he said they started working together only in February this year. Zelezny’s humongous world record stands at 98.48m since 1996.
Chopra, who tied the knot with tennis player Himani Mor in January, will next compete in the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial event in Chorzów, Poland, on May 23, where he will face Weber and Peters again, besides other top competitors.
Chopra is also set to compete at the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czechia on June 24, hoping to be third time lucky after pulling out of the last two editions due to injuries.
