Neeraj Chopra Aims for Greater Heights at ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial

Neeraj Chopra, having recently surpassed the 90m mark in Doha, is now focused on achieving even greater distances at the ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet. With a strong lineup of competitors and a renewed sense of confidence, Chopra aims to defend his title at the upcoming World Championships in Tokyo. This article explores his journey, recent performances, and future aspirations in the world of athletics.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 22, 2025, 13:08 IST

Chopra's Ambitious Goals in Javelin Throw

Last week in Doha, Neeraj Chopra successfully crossed the 90m mark, and he is now setting his sights on an even longer throw at the ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet this Friday.

During the Doha Diamond League, Chopra achieved a throw of 90.23m, securing second place as German athlete Julian Weber clinched victory with a throw of 91.06m in his final attempt, marking Weber's first 90m throw.

Weber, who was the European champion in 2022 and a silver medalist in 2024, will also compete in Poland, alongside Grenada's two-time world champion Anderson Peters, who finished third in Doha with a throw of 84m.

The competition will feature Polish national record holder Marcin Krukowski (PB: 89.55m), along with Cyprian Mrzyglod (PB: 84.97m), Dawid Wegner (PB: 82.21m), Moldova's Andrian Mardare (86.66m), and Ukraine's Artur Felfner (PB: 84.32m), making up an eight-man lineup.

Since surpassing 88m in 2018, the 90m milestone has been a significant target for the 27-year-old Chopra. Now that he has achieved it, he expressed that this is merely the start, and he aims to reach even greater distances throughout the season.

The highlight of the season will be the World Championships in Tokyo this September, where he will defend his title.

Chopra has overcome a groin issue that previously hindered his performance and feels more confident after teaming up with the legendary Jan Zelezny, the world record holder for the longest javelin throw.

In Doha, Chopra mentioned, 'My coach and I are still refining certain aspects of my throw. I am continuously learning, having only started working with him in February this year.'

'I believe I can achieve more 90m throws and even longer distances in the upcoming events leading up to the World Championships.'

'In the past few years, I was always feeling discomfort in my groin, which prevented me from performing at my best. This year, I feel significantly better.'

Chopra was initially scheduled to participate in the inaugural NC Classic, an event he was set to host on May 24 in Bengaluru, featuring numerous global and Indian stars. However, the event was postponed due to military tensions between India and Pakistan.

The meet in Poland will mark Chopra's third competition of the season. He began his journey at the Potch Invitational Track event in South Africa on April 16, where he topped the competition with a throw of 84.52m.

The ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial is recognized as a World Athletics Continental Tour silver event and is the oldest continuously held track and field meeting in Poland, dating back to 1954. It was established by friends of the legendary Olympic champion runner Janusz Kusocinski and has consistently attracted top athletes from around the globe.

Following this event, Chopra is also scheduled to compete at the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on June 24, hoping for a successful outing after withdrawing from the last two editions due to injuries.