Neeraj Chopra Breaks 90m Barrier in Doha Diamond League, Finishes Second Behind Germany's Julian Weber

Doha, May 16 — Neeraj Chopra, India's javelin sensation, etched his name into the sport's elite with a personal-best throw of 90.23 metres at the Doha leg of the Diamond League, becoming only the third Asian and the 25th athlete worldwide to breach the coveted 90m mark. Despite the historic achievement, Chopra had to settle for second place. Germany’s Julian Weber surged ahead with a dramatic 91.06m throw in his final attempt, claiming the top spot with a world-leading mark for the season.

Historic Milestone in Third Attempt​

The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist launched his javelin to 90.23m in his third attempt, surpassing his national record of 89.94m. With this, Chopra joined a prestigious list that includes his coach, Jan Zelezny, the Czech legend and world record holder (98.48m since 1996).

"I am very happy to have breached the 90m mark but it's a bittersweet experience," Chopra remarked. "My coach said today was the day, and the conditions helped. I'm happy for Julian too, and I believe I can throw farther in the upcoming events."

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Julian Weber’s Career-Best Steals the Spotlight​

While Chopra led until the final round, Weber’s last throw of 91.06m was his first-ever 90 m-plus effort, making him the 26th thrower to achieve the feat globally. The event turned into a thrilling contest, setting the tone for the rest of the Diamond League season.

Grenada’s Anderson Peters, a two-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, finished third with 84.65m.

Other Indian Performances​

• Kishore Jena, the second Indian in the men’s javelin lineup, placed eighth with a throw of 78.60m in a field of 11.
• Parul Chaudhary broke her own national record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, clocking 9:13.39 to finish sixth.
• Gulveer Singh clocked 13:24.32 to place ninth in the men’s 5000m, falling short of his national record (12:59.77).

This marks the first time four Indian athletes competed in a single Diamond League meet, reflecting the country’s growing footprint in global athletics.

Road Ahead: Poland and Czechia Next for Chopra​

Chopra will next compete at the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial in Chorzów, Poland, on May 23, where he will once again face Weber and Peters. He is also scheduled to appear at the Golden Spike 2025 meet in Ostrava, Czechia, on June 24, aiming to compete after injury-led withdrawals in previous years.

About the Diamond League​

The Wanda Diamond League is an elite series of 15 global one-day track and field meets. Athletes compete to earn points across 14 events to qualify for the DL Finale in Zurich, slated for August 27 and 28.


With Chopra's long-awaited 90m throw now a reality, the stage is set for an exhilarating season ahead in the javelin world.