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India's double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra finally breached the elusive 90m frontier with a 90.23m throw at the Doha leg of the prestigious Diamond League Meeting but he had to settle for a second place behind Germany's Julian Weber. Chopra, 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, he became the third Asian and 25th athlete overall to achieve a 90 m-plus throw
After crossing the 90m mark that he was chasing for five years, the Paris Olympics silver medallist said that there’s more to come, especially now that he’s feeling close to fully fit.
"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" said Neeraj Chopra.
The World Championships will take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21 later this year.
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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 also revealed that his coach predicted a 90m effort even before the competition. He also credited the favourable conditions in Doha for helping him unleash the big throw.
"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.
Chopra will next compete in the 71st ORLEN Janusz Kusociński Memorial event in Chorzow, Poland, on May 23, where he will face Weber and Peters again, besides other top competitors.
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