Under the floodlit skies of Doha this May, Neeraj Chopra launched himself into javelin history-finally breaching the mythical 90m mark with a colossal throw of 90.23m at the Diamond League.
The throw didn’t earn him first place as Germany’s Julian Weber snatched it with a last-gasp 91.06m. However, it catapulted the Indian star into the rarefied airspace few have ever reached.
For Neeraj, already an Olympic, World, and Diamond League champion, the 90m throw was the only missing feather in his illustrious hat. It was a mark long chased and finally conquered.
Now, with his name etched among the elites, German thrower Johannes Vetter, the man who sits just behind Jan Zelezny on the all-time list, shared his admiration for Neeraj’s milestone.
“I was very happy for him,” Vetter told NNIS Sports in an interview. “That 90m throw was a long time coming. But what truly sets Neeraj apart is his consistency.”
Vetter, the 2017 World Champion and the man who once hurled the javelin to a jaw-dropping 97.76m believes Chopra’s evolution since his U-20 World Championship win has been instrumental.
“Neeraj has made big changes over the years. He’s matured as an athlete (over the years) and maintains an excellent balance between training and competitions. That’s why he’s performing so consistently,” the German added further.
In 2025, Chopra’s season has been a mix of breakthroughs and near-misses. He opened his campaign with a win at the Potch Invitational Meet (84.52m), before scripting history in Doha. His most recent outing came at the Janusz Kusociński Memorial, where he placed second behind Julian Weber once again.
With the Paris Diamond League on June 20 at Stade Charlety up next, Chopra will look to sharpen his form before heading to the World Championships in Tokyo later this year.
And who might challenge him for the world crown? “(Julian) Weber will be strong again. I don’t know what Arshad Nadeem’s plans are post-Olympics. It’s wide open,” Vetter added.
Whether it’s another medal or another milestone, Neeraj Chopra has already thrown himself into javelin greatness. And even legends like Vetter are cheering him on.