"Just The Beginning": Neeraj Chopra Thanks Coach, Physio After Breaching 90m Mark

Indian world champion and Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expressed happiness with his 90-metre breaching performance at the Doha Diamond League recently and thanked his new coach Jan Zelezny and physio Ishaan Marwaaha for their support. Chopra had an outing to remember, as he became the first Indian to cross the 90 m mark in the sport on Friday. However, after a monstrous throw by Germany's Julian Weber at the Doha Diamond League, he could not secure the top spot on the podium this time.

Neeraj had the lead till the final round, crossing the 90-m mark with a stupendous throw of 90.23 m, which was his fifth, breaking his own national record. However, in the last set of throws, Weber registered a brilliant effort of 91.06 m, dropping Neeraj to second spot. Grenada's Anderson Peters was at number three, with a throw of 85.64 m.

Taking to X, Neeraj posted, "Happy to finally achieve the 90m mark at the Doha DL. A big thank you to the Indian supporters in the stadium for their encouragement, and to those watching and praying from home. Grateful to my coach, Jan Zelezny and physio Ishaan Marwaha for their constant support. This is just the beginning."

Happy to finally achieve the 90m mark at the Doha DL. A big thank you to the Indian supporters in the stadium for their encouragement, and to those watching and praying from home. Grateful to my coach, Jan Zelezny and physio Ishaan Marwaha for their constant support. This is just… pic.twitter.com/GSi3KgwbGI

Notably, his coach Zelezny is the world-record holder in the discipline, throwing a massive 98.48 m for the Czech Republic in 1996.

Neeraj had a brilliant start, kickstarting his season with a throw of 88.44 m, with Anderson Peters of Grenada in second