Chopra, has transformed Indian athletics with back-to-back medals at Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games. His 90.23m throw at Doha Diamond League will further drive growth of athletics in the country

On Friday night at Doha Diamond League, India’s 27 years old ace javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra joined the elite 90m club which will further give fillip to Indian athletics, particularly javelin.

On his third attempt India’s multiple global medallists hurled the javelin to a distance of 90.23m, a personal best and national record. Chopra’s previous national record was 89.94m set in 2022 Diamond League in Stockholm.

As the javelin competition progressed, Germany’s Julian Weber raced ahead of Chopra with a throw of 91.06m, a personal best, to finish first in the season’s first big competition.

Chopra has been discussing crossing the 90m barrier on several occasions in the past, but his consistent response was “success is measured in terms of medals at the global level and distance comes secondary.”

“On a good day and at the right time I will certainly cross the 90m mark,” Chopra would often say during media interactions.

Chopra’s main goal this season is to defend his World Championships title in Tokyo to be held from September 13 to 21 in Japan. His other goals on the Diamond League circuit will be to consistently stay in the 90m club.

Chopra has been close to the 90m mark in the past but narrowly missed the target in last few seasons. His season best in 2024 was 89.49m. In 2023 it was 88.88m. However, at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League he hurled the javelin to 89.94m, a national record.

Post 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where he settled for silver medal, he changed his coaching team. His long-term association with German biomechanic expert and coach Klaus Bartonietz came to an end in November 2024 and Chopra roped in former Czech great Jan Zelezny to guide him to conquer more milestones.

Chopra has been close to the 90m mark in the past but narrowly missed. His season best in 2024 was 89.49m. In 2023 it was 88.88m. However, at the 2022 Stockholm Diamond League he hurled the javelin to 89.94m, a national record.

Chopra started his 2025 season on a modest note with an 84m plus throw at an event in South Africa but pushed the boundaries to raise the bar at Doha Diamond League on Friday night.