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Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra has found path to 90m. Now, it's down to what he does best: Remain consistent
Ever the seeker, Neeraj Chopra was already looking expectantly towards the future as everyone around him was revelling in the present. Not for him the outpouring of emotions, a big sigh or any over-the-top celebrations after doing what no other Indian, and only 24 men globally before him, had done: make the javelin travel more than 90m. 90.23, to be exact. He might have broken the National Record — and the internet — but when, after Friday night's Diamond League duel, he was enthusiastically asked where this would feature in his long list of achievements, Chopra looked bemused. 'Achievement?' he mumbled. There was relief that the 90m questions — an irritant he could do without — would now stop. Beyond that, he was reluctant to read more into it. To him, breaching the hallowed mark was not an end. It was only the start. 'Raasta mil gaya hai nabbe metre ka (I have unlocked the path to 90m),' he told RevSportz. 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 — Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) May 16, 2025 For three years, Chopra had been desperately trying to add 6cm to his earlier personal best of 89.94m, which he threw in Stockholm back in June 2022. On Friday, when he bettered his PB by 29cm, he had a lot going for him. Crucially, the first time in more than a year, he was injury-free, which allowed Chopra to express himself without having to 'fear' about his groin. There were some subtle technical tweaks, too. When he took over as Chopra's coach in February, Czech legend Jan Zelezny shared his observation that, at times, Chopra's throws were a little low. He wanted the javelin to fly higher. And then, the elements played ball too. When the javelin competition began, the wind picked up, blowing from behind the thrower's arm. Julian Weber, the German who also crossed the 90m mark for the first time in his career to win the Doha leg of the league, told the World Athletics: 'The conditions here in Doha with the backwind are great for us javelin throwers. If you make the right adjustments and throw a little higher, it just flies great.' Chopra, who had been hyping up the conditions in the Qatari capital from the time he landed there, admitted that the 'wind helped' and the 'hot weather (it was 30-plus degrees) was good for throwing hard'. It is a striking coincidence that the two times an athlete with a 90-plus throw has finished second in an international competition in the last 34 years — since Kimmo Kinnunen first crossed the mark in 1991 — have both been at the Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Chopra said he could have thrown farther, but the 'technique wasn't perfect', giving him more room for improvement. For a man who, for years, maintained that result mattered and not the distance, Chopra wouldn't trade the distance for result on this one occasion. The importance of a second place finish at a Diamond League meet — though extending his incredible run of finishing in the top two wherever he has competed since the Tokyo Olympics — pales in comparison to breaching the 90m mark. Even though there was relentless chatter on the outside, some even questioning whether he had it in him to throw 90m, Chopra and his inner circle were never in doubt. There were moments of frustration and suffering, none more so than last year's Paris Olympics, but even during those trying moments, Chopra did not lose his belief. In his mind, if not for the injuries, he would have crossed this psychological barrier long ago. Talking about what worked on Friday, he said: 'All the injuries are gone. I feel much better than in the last few years because I always felt something in my groin. And (because of) that I did not give my best.' Chopra added that he has it in him to throw farther. A few more weeks with Zelezny — who has 52 90m throws to his name — and his technique will be more refined, Chopra hinted. 'I am working on a few things technically,' he told RevSportz without elaborating. 'It takes time to make changes to the technique. But once I broke the 88m, 89m barrier, I consistently threw those distances… So now I will try to keep throwing 90-plus metres.' There couldn't have been a better time for Chopra to join the exclusive 90m club. Until now, as he pocketed the Olympic and world titles, this distance wasn't a deciding factor in major finals. But that might no longer be the case as Chopra prepares to defend his world title this September. Arshad Nadeem, with his raw strength, keeps hurling the spear far into the other corner of the field as if it's some cardboard prop. He remains one of the most effortless exponents of the art in an increasingly crowded field of 90-plus throwers — five out of the 11 starters on Friday had a personal best of 90+, the number increased to seven by the time the competition ended. Chopra knew. And hence, as he admitted, he needed to find the path to 90m. Now that he's done it once, it'll be down to what he does best — remain consistent.
India.com
17-05-2025
- Sport
- India.com
WATCH: Neeraj Chopra creates HISTORY, crosses 90m mark for first time ever
Neeraj Chopra. New Delhi: Neeraj Chopra clocked a notable milestone at the Doha Diamond League, heaving the javelin 90.23 meters, his first attempt over 90 meters to finish second. He was narrowly outdone by Germany's Julian Weber who heaved 91.06 meters. Chopra's effort, clocked on his third attempt, was a highlight of the meet, living up to long-standing expectations. Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra set a new national record and became the first Indian to exceed 90 meters in a world-class event by overcoming his old record of 89.94 meters done in June 2022. 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 — Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) May 16, 2025 Chopra's recent throw was significant not just for its distance, but also because it represented overcoming a long-standing mental hurdle. He had repeatedly approached the 90-meter mark, consistently falling just short in the 88- and 89-meter range. Neeraj Chopra's impressive achievements, including Olympic and World Championship gold medals and Diamond League dominance, have left one question unanswered: Will he ever throw a javelin over 90 meters? With the recent addition of three-time Olympic gold medalist Jan Zelezny to his coaching staff, replacing Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, Neeraj Chopra achieved a long-sought-after competitive milestone. Zelezny's influence was evident in Chopra's success. Chopra's strong start, with an initial throw of 88.44 meters followed by a foul, culminated in a spectacular 90.23-meter throw on his third attempt. This impressive achievement generated widespread excitement among spectators and within the Indian sports community and internationally. Neeraj's impressive throw, exceeding 90 meters, places him among the sport's top javelin throwers, a group that includes Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem. This achievement represents a significant personal triumph beyond simply a numerical record. Neeraj's fourth throw was a foul, preventing a potential Diamond League victory. Weber overtook Chopra with a superior throw in the final rounds. Chopra's final attempt of 88.20m secured him second place. Chopra's strong performance alleviated the pressure of achieving a 90-meter throw, allowing him to focus on retaining his World Championship title and aiming for Olympic gold in Los Angeles in 2028. Indian javelin thrower Kishore Kumar Jena, a silver medalist at the Asian Games, underperformed in Friday's competition. He achieved a best throw of 78.60 meters, placing eighth out of eleven competitors and failing to reach the 80-meter mark.
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First Post
17-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Neeraj Chopra on breaching 90m mark: 'Some said it won't happen, I can throw further'
Neeraj Chopra said that while some believed he would never breach the 90m mark in javelin throw, he now feels confident about doing 90m and even 90+ metre throws regularly. read more Neeraj Chopra finally breached the 90m mark as he achieved a new national record with a 90.23m throw on Friday night at the Doha Diamond League. Neeraj did not win the competition as his long-time friend, Julian Weber of Germany, also broke the 90m mark for the first time and clinched the first position with a 91.06m throw. Grenada's Anderson Peters came third at 85.34m. Nonetheless, the second position at the Doha Diamond League 2025 is a small blip on a massive achievement for Neeraj, who has already won two medals at the Olympics, including a gold and the 2023 World Championships. Neeraj won all the major medals in the javelin throw competition by consistently hitting the 88-89m marks but the Paris Olympics, where he lost the gold to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, showed him that 90m was now a must. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Nadeem won the gold with a throw of 92.97m and breached the 90m mark twice in the Olympic final, Neeraj settled for silver with a throw of 89.45m. 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 — Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) May 16, 2025 But on Friday, at the Qatar Sports Complex, Neeraj broke the bad luck and as he hurled the javelin 90.23m far on his third attempt. Neeraj says critics have been proven wrong After breaking the 90m barrier, Neeraj said that he always knew 90m was possible for him but this achievement will give Indian fans another reason to celebrate. 'A lot of people used to ask about the 90m mark. Some also said it won't happen because since 2018, I have reached so far and been hitting 88-89m marks. Finally, not for me but surely the burden of the Indian fans has gone away now that the 90m is crossed. I feel I can do better and we will do it this year,' he told RevSportz. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I had a belief that I needed to know how to cross 90m and now I know that. So just like I consistently threw 88-89m, now I will try to target 90 and 90+ throws.' Neeraj added that helpful breezy conditions in Doha and the warm weather also helped him. 'When I was having warm-up throws my coach said today is the day when I can throw 90m. After my 90m throw also, he told me I can throw 2-3m farther,' he said. 'The wind helps for sure and the weather is a little warm and that helps. It's the first competition of the year, so everyone came with a fresh mindset after a long time and has hunger inside for the throwing part.' Neeraj also credited his new coach, Jan Zelezny, who is considered the greatest javelin thrower ever, for his latest achievement. 'I am very happy that Jan Zelezny is my coach and we worked very hard in South Africa. We are still working on some aspects.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 27-year-old Indian athlete also did not forget to praise his competitor, Weber, who won the competition with a personal best throw. 'I also told Julian (Weber) that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him. We have tried very hard for 90m for so many years, and so we are happy. It's like a good push between us and in the next competition we will push each other again and will throw farther,' he added.
India Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Relief, then fire: Neeraj Chopra's 90m breakthrough lights a fresh fuse
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 looked pleased. It was only his opening throw, in his first major outing of 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 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 second throw was a 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 huge,' the commentators exclaimed, sensing the 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 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 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 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 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 Watch
India Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- India Today
Watch: Neeraj Chopra's subdued celebration after historic 90.23m throw in Doha Diamond League
Neeraj Chopra finally breached the 90m mark in men's javelin on Friday, May 16. Competing at the Doha Diamond League event, Neeraj's third attempt landed at 90.23m, crossing the much-anticipated 90m barrier. Known for his exuberant celebrations on the track, Neeraj, however, celebrated in a subdued manner this time, with a sense of calm evident on his star Indian athlete lifted his arms in the air and offered a slight smile before walking over to the rest of the field, celebrating quietly by high-fiving a few of his competitors. Breaking the 90m mark lifted a huge weight off Neeraj's shoulders, as he had long been questioned about when he would finally surpass that Diamond League: HighlightsNeeraj had previously spoken about the pressure of the growing anticipation. In 2024, he revealed that he too was eager to break the 90m barrier.'This question, a lot of people have asked me since 2018 — when I threw 88.06m at the Asian Games. But then, a lot happened — my elbow injury, surgery. I've been stuck between 88m and 90m. But I really want to break this barrier. Last year, I said in this press conference that Doha is famous for 90m throws. But we weren't lucky because of too much headwind. Maybe tomorrow will be better,' Neeraj had told the media in moment finally arrived at the Doha Diamond League 2025. Neeraj not only started strong with an 88.44m throw but also achieved a massive 90.23m in his third that throw, he became the first Indian ever to breach the 90m barrier in men's javelin. He also became the 25th athlete in the world to achieve this feat. However, he was unable to better that mark in his subsequent Chopra in Doha Diamond League: ReportNeeraj 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 Doordarshan Sports (@ddsportschannel) May 16, 2025NEERAJ CHOPRA'S BEST THROWS1. 90.23m Doha Diamond League 20252. 89.94m Stockholm Diamond League 20223. 89.49m Lausanne Diamond League 20244. 89.45m Paris 2024 Olympics - F5. 89.34m Paris 2024 Olympics - QOn Friday, Neeraj, however, was not able to win the Doha Diamond League, as a late attempt from Germany's Julian Weber beat his 90.23m attempt. Weber threw his personal best 91.06m after threatening Neeraj with his incredible Watch
