Neeraj Chopra stands tall after breaching the 90m mark with his javelin in Doha.

Neeraj Chopra, India’s celebrated javelin thrower and Olympic champion, has once again made history by becoming the first Indian athlete to breach the 90+ meter mark in javelin throw. This remarkable feat was achieved during the Diamond League event held in Doha, Qatar, where he recorded a stunning throw of 90.23 meters .

This achievement not only marks a personal milestone for Neeraj Chopra but also signals the beginning of a new chapter for Indian athletics. At 27 years old, Neeraj Chopra is already a decorated athlete — a gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021 due to the global pandemic) and a silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With this record-breaking performance in Doha, he becomes the third Asian and the 25th overall javelin thrower in history to cross the prestigious 90+ meter mark.

A Historic Throw in Doha

At the 2025 Doha Diamond League , Neeraj Chopra started strong with a throw of 88.44 meters in his first attempt, clearly signaling his intent to challenge for the gold. His second attempt was ruled a foul, but in the third round, he delivered a historic throw of 90.23 meters , breaking his own previous best. The crowd erupted as Neeraj Chopra crossed this psychological barrier, a moment that brought immense pride to the nation.

However, the competition took an exciting turn in the final throws. German athlete Julian Weber , competing at the Diamond League for the first time, stunned everyone with a 91.06-meter throw on his sixth and final attempt. That effort not only secured him the gold medal but also marked his entry into the elite group of 90+ meter throwers as the 26th athlete in history .

Despite finishing second, Neeraj Chopra’s performance remains historic and inspiring. His remaining attempts yielded throws of 80.56m , another foul, and 88.20m , which were below his peak form but did not diminish the significance of his achievement.

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Journey from a Village to Global Stardom

Born on December 24, 1997 , in the village of Khandra in Panipat district, Haryana , Neeraj Chopra hails from a humble background. His father, Satish Kumar , is a farmer, and his mother, Saroj Devi , is a homemaker. As a child, Neeraj struggled with weight issues, prompting his parents to encourage him to exercise. It was during one of these sessions in the fields that he discovered javelin throwing at Shivaji Stadium, where local children practiced the sport.

His talent quickly emerged. In 2012 , he won the Junior National Championship in the U-16 category. He then earned his first international medal at the Youth Olympics qualification event in Bangkok in 2014 . Over the years, his career trajectory soared — from winning gold at the 2016 South Asian Games in Guwahati to making history as India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist in athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics .

In 2024 , at the Paris Olympics , Neeraj Chopra narrowly missed defending his title, securing a silver medal after being edged out by Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem , who won gold.

I am very happy to have breached the 90m mark but it’s a bittersweet exprerience. My Coach Jan Zelezny said today is the say when I can throw 90m. The wind helps and weather is a little warm and that helps. I believe i can throw farther than this in the coming events. We will work on some aspects and will throw 90m- plus again this season.

Neeraj Chopra

Diamond League Journey

Neeraj Chopra first entered the Diamond League circuit in 2018 , finishing in fourth place. His debut in Doha came in 2018 , where he threw 87.43 meters . After winning Olympic gold in 2021, he returned to the Diamond League with renewed vigor and clinched gold in 2023 with a throw of 88.67 meters . He repeated the same distance in 2024 , earning silver, and now in 2025 , despite crossing 90 meters, he finishes with another silver.

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Other Competitors

In the Doha event, Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time world champion and bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, finished third with a throw of 84.65 meters . Another Indian competitor, Kishore Jena , could not match the high standards set by the top athletes, finishing eighth with a throw of 78.60 meters .

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A Decade to Reach 90 Meters

Neeraj Chopra began his javelin journey in 2014 , crossing the 70-meter mark in his first year. By 2015 , he had surpassed 80 meters , a benchmark he would go on to exceed over 50 times in the following years. However, it took him nearly a decade to break through the 90-meter barrier , a feat he finally accomplished in Doha — a fitting stage for such a significant achievement.

Neeraj Chopra’s 90.23-meter throw in Doha is more than just a number — it represents years of dedication, perseverance, and excellence. While he may have missed the gold by less than a meter, his performance has cemented his place among the greatest javelin throwers in history. As he continues to inspire millions across India and beyond, Neeraj Chopra stands tall as a symbol of sporting excellence and national pride.

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