Lt Colonel Neeraj Chopra Breaches 90m Barrier, Finishes Second at Doha Diamond League 2025

In a landmark moment for Indian athletics, Olympic champion and newly appointed honorary Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, Neeraj Chopra etched his name into the history books by breaching the prestigious 90-metre barrier in javelin throw for the first time in his career. Competing at the Doha Diamond League 2025, Neeraj recorded a stunning personal best of 90.23m, becoming only the 25th javelin thrower in history to cross the coveted mark.

Despite the record-setting throw, Chopra finished second, as Germany’s Julian Weber delivered a spectacular 91.06m throw to claim the top spot at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium.

Neeraj’s series began with a strong 88.44m opener, followed by a foul in his second attempt. However, he soared in the third attempt, launching the javelin to 90.23 metres, a milestone long-awaited by his fans and sporting fraternity. This performance places him among the elite in the world of javelin, joining legends like Jan Zelezny, Johannes Vetter, Thomas Röhler, and Arshad Nadeem.

Now training under Zelezny himself—a three-time Olympic gold medallist and world record holder (98.48m)—Neeraj’s performance signals peak form ahead of the upcoming international season, including the Paris Olympics.

His 90m+ achievement is even more significant as only 126 such throws have ever been recorded in javelin history, highlighting the rarity of the feat. Though Weber edged ahead with his final throw, Chopra’s consistency, growth, and mental resilience stole the limelight.

Neeraj’s performance also comes shortly after being conferred the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Territorial Army, reflecting his stature as both a sporting icon and a symbol of national pride. The confluence of military honour and athletic excellence has once again reinforced his place as one of India’s greatest sporting legends.

Adding to the night of milestones, India’s Parul Chaudhary also delivered a national record-breaking run in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, finishing sixth with a time of 9:13.39, bettering her previous Diamond League debut in Eugene where she had finished 16th.

With Chopra’s historic 90.23m throw and Chaudhary’s national record, the Doha Diamond League 2025 will be remembered as a watershed moment for Indian athletics on the global stage.