India’s Olympic gold medalist and world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra delivered a historic performance at the Doha Diamond League on Friday, becoming the first Indian to cross the 90-metre mark in the sport. Despite the achievement, he finished second in the event following a remarkable final throw by Germany’s Julian Weber.
Chopra began his season on a high note, launching his first throw to a distance of 88.44 metres. Grenada’s Anderson Peters followed with 85.64m, and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott stood third with 84.65m. Chopra’s second throw was a foul, but he retained the lead. Germany’s Julian Weber was close behind with a best of 85.57m.
In his third attempt, Chopra made history with a throw of 90.23 metres, breaking his own national record of 89.94m set during the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League. The throw extended his lead and marked a landmark moment in Indian athletics. Weber, meanwhile, threw 89.06m, staying within reach.
Chopra’s fourth throw measured 80.56m, and his fifth was a foul. Still, he held the lead heading into the final round, with Weber in second and Peters in third.
However, the competition took a dramatic turn in the final set of throws. Weber unleashed a massive effort of 91.06 metres, overtaking Chopra and clinching the top podium spot. Chopra’s final throw was 88.20 metres, which secured him the second position.
Anderson Peters remained third with his earlier best of 85.64 metres.
While Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed out on a win, his historic 90.23m throw marks a new chapter in Indian athletics and sets a strong tone for the upcoming season.
