Relief, then fire: Neeraj Chopra's 90m breakthrough lights a fresh fuse

India Today

17-05-2025

Neeraj Chopra didn't let out a celebratory roar. There was no fist pump into the warm Doha air, no theatrical flourish as he finally conquered the elusive 90-metre mark. Instead, he simply shook his head and allowed himself a wry smile. Relief, not rapture, coloured his expression. The monkey was off his back at last.On Friday, Neeraj became just the 25th man in history to breach the coveted 90-metre barrier in men's javelin. It was a milestone years in the making. Ever since he unleashed a stunning 86.48m throw as a teenager at the U20 World Championships in 2016, he had been earmarked for greatness—and he delivered. Two Olympic medals, including a historic gold, a World Championship title, and the Diamond League trophy—he had won it all. Yet one achievement continued to slip just out of reach for India's golden boy from Panipat.advertisementWherever he went, the 90-metre question followed. Statistically, he has been the most consistent javelin thrower of the modern era, recording 14 throws between 88 and 90 metres since his Olympic triumph in Tokyo. But a nation wanted more - it wanted magic. It wanted 90.
He came agonisingly close. At the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022, he fell just six centimetres short. At the Olympic final in Paris, with only one legal throw, he reached 89.45m. Later that year, in the Lausanne Diamond League Final, he edged even nearer—just four centimetres shy.Neeraj Chopra joins the 90M 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'A lot of people kept asking whether I'd ever throw 90 metres—because I hadn't done it despite competing at the top level since 2018,' Neeraj told RevSportz, moments after his landmark throw in Doha.advertisement'I'd hit 88, 89... but never 90. Finally, not just for me, but for all Indians, the weight has lifted. And I feel like I can go even further,' he said, speaking for a nation he once again made proud.THE IRONY IN DOHAIronically, the Doha Diamond League was perhaps the first competition in recent memory where the 90-metre question wasn't raised in the customary pre-event press conference. From his new coach Jan Zelezny to India-Pakistan sporting tensions, Neeraj fielded a range of questions—but not that one.Yet, come Friday evening, as he stepped out for warm-ups, there was a quiet certainty about him. Calm, composed, and purposeful, Neeraj looked like a man on a mission. He reportedly warmed up by casually flinging the spear beyond 80 metres—an early sign of what was to come.Clad in his signature sky-blue kit, the now-iconic headband in place and the support belt snug around his hips, Neeraj lined up for his first attempt. The javelin cut through the night sky and landed at 88.44m - a world-leading mark at the time.He looked pleased. It was only his opening throw, in his first major outing of the season.THE VISIBLE MINOR TWEAKS
Neeraj Chopra became the 25th man to breach the 90-metre barrier. Courtesy: PTI
In the build-up to Doha, Neeraj had hinted at feeling sharper and injury-free after many years. He was able to overcome a nagging groin injury in the off-season. He had spoken about good rhythm in warm-ups, and the impact of working with Zelezny—the legendary Czech world-record holder—since February. Though their partnership was still new, Neeraj acknowledged technical tweaks and routine changes they had begun to implement. He spoke candidly about finding his feet with Zelezny after five successful years under former coach Klaus Bartonietz. The decision to shake things up was deliberate and bold.The changes were visible in his very first attempt. He wasn't getting quite as side-on as before, and after braking and releasing, his posture looked more balanced than he was more balanced than ever before. Yet, the arms didn't go up—his signature sign of satisfaction—as the spear landed.His second throw was a foul.Then came the third—the one destined for history. As always, Neeraj rallied the crowd before his run-up, then charged into the take-off zone. He let fly—and this time, he knew. The arms shot up. That familiar gesture returned.advertisement'That's huge,' the commentators exclaimed, sensing the moment.When the scoreboard flashed 90.23m, the real eruption happened not on the field, but across commentary boxes and social media feeds. Neeraj, on the other hand, appeared serene—quietly absorbing the weight of what he had just achieved. He hadn't just crossed a distance. He had breached a barrier—mental and monumental.MORE WORK TO DO!
Neeraj Chopra finished second in the Doha Diamond League. Courtesy: PTI
Yes, Friday was historic. But Neeraj would be the first to admit that 90.23 is, in the end, just another number. Even in Doha, the celebration came with a reminder: he would need to throw farther. Germany's Julian Weber, 30, eclipsed Neeraj's mark with a stunning 91.06m effort—his own long-awaited breakthrough beyond 90 metres—snatching the top spot with his final throw. Weber had been knocking on the door for years, building steadily with a string of consistent performances before delivering that late-round 'kaboom'.advertisementFor years, Neeraj has worn consistency like a badge of honour. But it was after the heartbreak of the Paris Olympic final—where Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem claimed gold with a jaw-dropping 92.97m Olympic record—that Neeraj first spoke with urgency about the need to throw farther.On Friday, though, there was a shift. He spoke not with anxiety, but with assurance. Now that he's breached 90, he believes there's more in the tank.'I know I can throw better. And I will, this year,' Neeraj said. 'I wanted to see the path to 90m. Now that I've seen it, I'll get better. I was consistently throwing 88, 89. I'm confident that I can now consistently throw 90 and beyond.'The fight for supremacy in men's javelin is shaping into one of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 athletics season. The season-opening Doha Diamond League has already raised the stakes.More time under Jan Zelezny's guidance, the taste of 90 still fresh, and a renewed fire stoked by fierce rivals—everything is aligning to sharpen Neeraj's edge. He knows defending his world title in September won't come easy. The months ahead will be about pushing boundaries, testing limits, and chasing something even greater.And when it all comes to a head in Tokyo, it won't just be a title on the line—it'll be legacy. The target is no longer 90. It's everything beyond.Must Watch