Only 25 men in history have ever hurled a javelin beyond 90 metres: a mythical distance that defines the sport’s true titans. And Neeraj Chopra didn’t just join this ultra-elite club in Doha, but he also set a new gold standard for Indian sport.
The 90-metre mark isn’t just a number-it’s the holy grail of javelin, a distance dominated by legends like Jan Železný, the Czech maestro and Neeraj’s coach, who still holds the world record at a jaw-dropping 98.48 metres. Železný’s dominance is staggering: 5 of the 10 longest throws in history belong to him. For Neeraj, having the greatest ever as a mentor is like learning to fly from the man who built the wings.
For years, we have seen Neeraj get tantalizingly close to this 90-metre milestone: 89.94m in Stockholm, 89.49m in Lausanne, 89.45 and 89.34m at Paris 2024, and a string of other high-80s throws. Injuries and near-misses only made the wait more intense. But with one perfect throw in Doha, Chopra shattered the mental and physical barrier that had eluded him for so long.
He became only the third Asian in history to achieve the feat. His 90.23m throw was a symphony of power and poise, a national record, a continental statement, and a moment that sent Indian fans into raptures. Even though Germany’s Julian Weber edged him out for the top spot, the real victory belonged to Neeraj and to Indian athletics.
Neeraj himself called it “just the beginning.” He’s never looked fitter, never sounded more confident, and with Železný guiding him, the horizon only gets wider. LA 2028 may be on the distant radar, but the path to even greater heights feels more real than ever.
For now, let’s savour this moment and celebrate one of India’s greatest-ever athletes. The future of Neeraj Chopra and Indian javelin has never looked brighter.
