Is This Just the Beginning for Neeraj Chopra After Breaking the 90m Barrier in Doha?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Neeraj Chopra threw 90.23 meters at the Doha Diamond League 2025.
- His new coach Jan Zelezny has positively influenced his performance.
- Chopra joins an elite group of javelin throwers who have surpassed the 90m mark.
- Despite finishing second, this achievement alleviates pressure for future competitions.
- Chopra is focused on defending his World Championship gold and preparing for the 2028 Olympics.
New Delhi, May 18 (NationPress) Neeraj Chopra shared his thoughts following his impressive performance at the Doha Diamond League 2025, where the Indian athlete achieved a historic throw of 90.23 meters. The influence of his new coach, Jan Zelezny, was evident as Chopra finally surpassed the significant milestone he had been striving to reach for several years. Recently, Chopra appointed the three-time Olympic gold medallist Zelezny from the Czech Republic as his coach, taking over from Dr. Klaus Bartonietz. The 27-year-old expressed his gratitude towards his coach and physio, stating, This is just the beginning.
“I’m thrilled to finally hit the 90m mark at the Doha Diamond League. A heartfelt thank you to all the Indian fans in the stadium for their incredible support, and to those cheering from home. I’m deeply thankful to my coach, Jan Zelezny, and physio Ishaan Marwaha for their unwavering assistance. This is just the beginning.”
Chopra began with a solid throw of 88.44m on his first attempt but had a foul on his second. However, he unleashed a remarkable throw of 90.23m on his third attempt, finally overcoming the milestone that had eluded him.
With this achievement, Neeraj joins an elite group of javelin throwers who have surpassed the 90m mark, which includes reigning Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem from Pakistan, solidifying his legacy as one of the sport's legends.
Although Chopra fouled on his fourth attempt, it seemed like he was on track for another victory at a Diamond League event. However, Germany's Julian Weber claimed the win with an impressive throw of 91.06m in the final round.
This result was a positive one for Chopra, as it relieved him of the pressure associated with crossing the 90m mark. The Indian star can now focus on defending his World Championship title and reclaiming the Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.