India’s golden boy of athletics, Neeraj Chopra, etched his name in history on Friday evening at the Doha Diamond League 2025 by breaching the elusive 90-metre barrier in men’s javelin throw for the very first time. His remarkable throw of 90.23 metres, achieved in his third attempt, made him the first Indian and only the third Asian ever to cross the coveted 90-metre mark in men’s javelin. Yet, in a dramatic twist, Chopra had to settle for second place as Germany’s Julian Weber stunned everyone with a mammoth throw of 91.06 metres in his final attempt, snatching victory from Chopra’s grasp.

A Historic Milestone

Chopra’s journey to this milestone has been years in the making. Since his breakthrough Olympic gold in Tokyo 2021, he has consistently flirted with the 90-metre mark, coming agonisingly close on several occasions. His previous best stood at 89.94 metres, set at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022. Doha, however, was different. Starting strong with an 88.44m throw, Chopra fouled his second attempt but then unleashed a throw of 90.23m, resetting the Indian national record and electrifying the stadium crowd.

The competition was fierce. Chopra led for most of the event, with his nearest rivals trailing behind. Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time world champion, finished third with a best of 85.64 metres. But it was Julian Weber, the European champion from Germany, who kept building momentum. After a series of impressive throws, Weber produced a sensational final effort of 91.06 metres-his own first time crossing the 90-metre mark-making him the 26th man in history to achieve the feat and pushing Chopra to second place.

For Chopra, the moment was one of both relief and renewed ambition. After years of near misses and battling injuries, he finally joined the elite 90-metre club, becoming only the 25th man in history to do so. His coach, Jan Železný-the legendary Czech thrower and world record holder-had predicted that Doha could be the day Chopra would cross the barrier, and the athlete delivered.

Speaking after the event, Chopra expressed satisfaction at finally breaching the mark but admitted the result was bittersweet. “I am very happy to have breached the 90m mark but it’s a bitter-sweet experience,” he said, acknowledging both his own achievement and Weber’s extraordinary final throw. Chopra also noted that now, having seen the path to 90 metres, he is confident of throwing even farther in upcoming competitions.

The Doha Diamond League 2025 will be remembered as a turning point in Indian athletics. Chopra’s achievement has not only set a new national record but also inspired a new generation of Indian athletes to dream bigger. The fight for supremacy in men’s javelin is now fiercer than ever, with Chopra, Weber, and other top throwers pushing each other to new heights. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Chopra to see if he can consistently breach the 90-metre mark and reclaim the top spot on the podium.