“There it was — the magical 90-metre mark. On just his third attempt in his first real competition of 2025, Neeraj Chopra finally broke the barrier.”
Neeraj Chopra Breaks the 90m Barrier: A New Era Begins
For years, the 90-metre mark loomed over Neeraj Chopra — taunting, frustrating, and always just out of reach. Olympic glory? Achieved. World Championship medals? Secured. Yet this one seemingly arbitrary milestone remained elusive. He came agonisingly close on multiple occasions — once within just six centimetres — but it always managed to slip away. Until now.
In his first full-fledged competition of 2025, at the Doha Diamond League, Neeraj finally did it. On his third attempt, he unleashed a throw that flew high, clean, and true — and when the javelin landed at 90.23 metres, relief flooded his face. It wasn’t so much joy as it was release — a long-awaited, almost burdensome goal finally accomplished. His fellow competitors, fully aware of what that moment meant, came forward to congratulate him. One of the first was Julian Weber, a close friend and fellow javelin thrower who knew the struggle all too well.
Ironically, Neeraj’s throw wasn’t enough to win the event. That honour went to Weber himself, who on his sixth attempt hurled the javelin 91.06 metres — his first-ever 90m+ throw. It was only the third time in 17 meetings that Weber had managed to beat Neeraj. “Bittersweet,” Neeraj called it. And yet, you could tell: this second-place finish felt different. For a man who has often said that finishing positions matter more than distances, this was perhaps the one time the throw meant more than the medal.
What made the moment even more special was the presence of Neeraj’s new coach — the legendary Jan Železný, the greatest javelin thrower in history. Železný rarely attends Diamond League events, but he made an exception for Doha. Before the meet, he told Neeraj he would cross 90m that night. Afterward, his feedback was characteristically direct: “You can throw 2-3 metres more.”
Neeraj believes it too. For years, a persistent groin niggle had held him back. Now, he says he feels healthy again — and it showed in his smooth run-up, effortless release, and confident technique. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “I believe I can throw much further.”
And it’s true. With competitors like Arshad Nadeem and Anderson Peters consistently breaching the 90m mark, and others like Weber now joining the club, the 90m threshold is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. For Neeraj, clearing that mental and physical hurdle could be the breakthrough he needed to unlock a new level.
The true test lies ahead — defending his World Championship title later this year. But with his confidence high, his body stronger, and the ghost of 90m finally behind him, Neeraj Chopra looks ready to enter the next chapter of his historic career.
