In a historic moment for Indian sport, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra became the first person to break the mythical 90-metre mark in men’s javelin at the Doha Diamond League 2025. Performing at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium on May 16, Chopra hurled a career-best throw of 90.23m on his third attempt, the first Indian and only the third Asian in history to cross this mythical threshold.
While Chopra was in the lead for most of the competition, Germany’s Julian Weber came as a massive surprise in the final round with a giant 91.06m throw, taking the first podium spot and establishing himself as the new world-leading mark in the season.
Breaking Barriers: Neeraj Joins Elite 90m Club
Watch Neeraj Chopra make HISTORY! 🇮🇳
— MP MyGov (@MP_MyGov) May 16, 2025
He breaches the 90m barrier with a gigantic 90.23m throw at #DohaDL — a moment for the ages! #NeerajChopra #IndianAthletics #DiamondLeague #JavelinThrow #Athletics #90mClub #HistoryMade pic.twitter.com/CTulCZV8RK
Chopra’s long-awaited entry into the 90m club marks a significant milestone not just in his career, but in Indian sports history. The 26-year-old has flirted with the 90m line for years—his previous best being 89.94m—and finally crossed it in emphatic style at Doha.
Here’s a look at Neeraj Chopra’s performance round-by-round:
- 1st Attempt: 88.44m
- 2nd Attempt: Foul
- 3rd Attempt: 90.23m (career-best)
- 4th Attempt: 80.56m
- 5th Attempt: Foul
- 6th Attempt: 88.20m
Event Highlights: Doha Diamond League 2025 – Men’s Javelin
- 🥇 Julian Weber (Germany): 91.06m (World-leading, 6th Attempt)
- 🥈 Neeraj Chopra (India): 90.23m (3rd Attempt)
- 🥉 Anderson Peters (Grenada): 84.65m
- 🇮🇳 Kishore Jena (India): 78.60m (8th Place)
This was Neeraj’s third consecutive podium finish in Doha:
- 2023: 1st place (88.67m)
- 2024: 2nd place (88.36m)
- 2025: 2nd place (90.23m)
Significance of the Achievement
Neeraj Chopra is now:
- The first Indian to cross 90 metres in javelin
- The third Asian to reach this feat
- The 25th athlete globally to break the 90m mark
- One of only a few to do so under the guidance of coach Jan Zelezny, a javelin legend and world record holder (98.48m)
Chopra’s entry into this elite group also highlights his consistent growth as an athlete. Despite finishing second, his performance in Doha Diamond League 2025 has been celebrated by sports fans and experts across the globe.
What’s Next for Chopra?
Chopra’s 2025 season got off to a flyer, but with the NC Classic 2025 being cancelled in Bengaluru, he won’t be contesting again this month. That makes his Doha statement performance all the more vital as he gears up for the remainder of the season—including later this year’s Paris Olympics.
Neeraj is in high spirits and determined, having said after the event that he’s targeting consistent 90m+ throws from now on.
Indian Women Shine Too
In yet another moment of pride for Indian athletics, Parul Chaudhary broke the national record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:13.39, placing sixth in a tough field. Her progression from a 16th-place finish in Eugene last year to a top-6 finish in Doha indicates how Indian athletes are coming up on the international scene.
Final Thoughts
The Doha Diamond League 2025 will be etched in the memory books as the competition where Neeraj Chopra at last overcame the 90-metre barrier—a milestone that stamps him as one of the greats of the javelin sport. Although gold slipped through his fingers at the end, the actual victory was historic and tear-jerking for a nation.
With the season just getting started, all eyes will now be on how far Chopra can go—literally and figuratively. At Taaza Wire, we’ll be following every stride and throw as India’s golden boy aims for new records and Olympic glory.
