NEW DELHI: It was a "bitter-sweet" outing for Neeraj Chopra at the Doha Diamond League , where he finally breached the elusive 90m mark but still had to settle for second place. The 27-year-old Indian javelin star, who has battled a persistent groin injury in recent years, looked back in top shape as he hurled the spear to a career-best 90.23m in his third attempt. With that, Chopra became the third Asian and 25th athlete overall to achieve a 90m-plus throw — a prestigious club led by his current coach, Czech legend Jan Zelezny.
However, Germany’s Julian Weber had the final say in Doha. He snatched victory with a last-gasp effort of 91.06m, surpassing Chopra’s mark and pushing the Indian Olympic gold medallist to second spot, despite leading until the final round.
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Having finally crossed the 90m threshold — a mark he had been chasing for five years — Chopra said there’s more to come, especially now that he’s feeling close to fully fit. The focus now shifts to refining his technique with coach Zelezny, under whose guidance Chopra has been training since February, although the partnership officially began in November.
"I am very happy with the 90m mark but it's a little bit of a bitter-sweet experience actually. But never mind, I and my coach are still working on some aspects of my throw. We started working together only in February this year. I am still learning things," Chopra said after the competition.
"I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better, we will also work on some aspects and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships."
The World Championships are scheduled to take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
Asked about his next target now that the 90m mark has been ticked off, Chopra said, "My next goal is just 90m. I believe I am ready to throw farther. It's just the beginning of a long season.
"I am very happy that Jan Zelezny is my coach and we worked very hard in South Africa. We are still working on some aspects."
Chopra credited the favourable conditions in Doha for helping him unleash the big throw and shared that Zelezny had predicted a 90m effort even before the competition.
"When I was having warm-up throws my coach said today is the day when I can throw 90m. After my 90m throw also, he told me I can throw 2-3m farther.
"The wind helps for sure and the weather is a little warm and that helps. It's the first competition of the year, so everyone came with a fresh mindset after a long time and has hunger inside for the throwing part.
"I also told Julian (Weber) that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him. We have tried very hard for 90m for so many years, and so we are happy. It's like a good push between us and in the next competition we will push each other again and will throw farther," he added.
This wasn't the first time Chopra had finished runner-up after a record throw.
"It had happened earlier also. When I threw an NR with over 89m in Turku, I finished second. In Stockholm DL, when I threw 89.94m, I was second again, so also here," he said.
Meanwhile, Weber, who also breached the 90m mark for the first time, expressed joy over the competition and Chopra’s breakthrough.
"I did not know how it happened. I had a very good massage thanks to my physiotherapist. It was fun today. Neeraj threw his first 90m plus and I went past the mark in my last throw and that was just perfect.
"I was very happy for him. We have been fighting for the 90m throw for a long time and we both achieved that today. So, it was very special for us."
Weber’s 91.06m effort — the best in the world this season so far — made him the 26th athlete to breach the coveted distance.
Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada finished third with a best of 84.65m, registered on his opening attempt.
However, Germany’s Julian Weber had the final say in Doha. He snatched victory with a last-gasp effort of 91.06m, surpassing Chopra’s mark and pushing the Indian Olympic gold medallist to second spot, despite leading until the final round.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
Having finally crossed the 90m threshold — a mark he had been chasing for five years — Chopra said there’s more to come, especially now that he’s feeling close to fully fit. The focus now shifts to refining his technique with coach Zelezny, under whose guidance Chopra has been training since February, although the partnership officially began in November.
"I am very happy with the 90m mark but it's a little bit of a bitter-sweet experience actually. But never mind, I and my coach are still working on some aspects of my throw. We started working together only in February this year. I am still learning things," Chopra said after the competition.
"I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better, we will also work on some aspects and so I believe I can throw more than 90m in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships."
The World Championships are scheduled to take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
Asked about his next target now that the 90m mark has been ticked off, Chopra said, "My next goal is just 90m. I believe I am ready to throw farther. It's just the beginning of a long season.
"I am very happy that Jan Zelezny is my coach and we worked very hard in South Africa. We are still working on some aspects."
Chopra credited the favourable conditions in Doha for helping him unleash the big throw and shared that Zelezny had predicted a 90m effort even before the competition.
"When I was having warm-up throws my coach said today is the day when I can throw 90m. After my 90m throw also, he told me I can throw 2-3m farther.
"The wind helps for sure and the weather is a little warm and that helps. It's the first competition of the year, so everyone came with a fresh mindset after a long time and has hunger inside for the throwing part.
"I also told Julian (Weber) that we can throw 90m. I am also happy for him. We have tried very hard for 90m for so many years, and so we are happy. It's like a good push between us and in the next competition we will push each other again and will throw farther," he added.
This wasn't the first time Chopra had finished runner-up after a record throw.
"It had happened earlier also. When I threw an NR with over 89m in Turku, I finished second. In Stockholm DL, when I threw 89.94m, I was second again, so also here," he said.
Meanwhile, Weber, who also breached the 90m mark for the first time, expressed joy over the competition and Chopra’s breakthrough.
"I did not know how it happened. I had a very good massage thanks to my physiotherapist. It was fun today. Neeraj threw his first 90m plus and I went past the mark in my last throw and that was just perfect.
"I was very happy for him. We have been fighting for the 90m throw for a long time and we both achieved that today. So, it was very special for us."
Weber’s 91.06m effort — the best in the world this season so far — made him the 26th athlete to breach the coveted distance.
Two-time world champion and Paris Olympics bronze medallist Anderson Peters of Grenada finished third with a best of 84.65m, registered on his opening attempt.
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