Neeraj Chopra Reflects on Comeback at Doha Diamond League

Neeraj Chopra, the celebrated javelin thrower, made a notable return at the Doha Diamond League, achieving a throw of 85.69 meters despite finishing fourth. He expressed optimism about refining his technique for future competitions, including the Commonwealth and Asian Games. Reflecting on his previous season, Neeraj highlighted his victories and personal bests, showcasing his resilience and determination to excel in athletics. His journey continues as he aims for greater heights in the upcoming events.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 21, 2026, 00:10 IST

Neeraj Chopra's Comeback Performance

Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion in javelin throw, expressed his satisfaction with his recent performance at the Doha Diamond League, despite finishing in fourth place. He highlighted the significance of achieving a commendable throw after a lengthy injury hiatus, expressing optimism that with further technical adjustments, his future performances will improve.

At the inaugural Athletics Federation of India (AFI) awards held in New Delhi, Neeraj was honored as the 'Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025'. His comeback at the Doha Diamond League saw him record a best throw of 85.69 meters, securing fourth place.

Previously, he participated in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, where he was unable to defend his title, finishing eighth with a throw of 84.03 meters, falling short to Sachin Yadav, who placed fourth. Despite not reaching the podium, Neeraj expressed his contentment with surpassing the 85-meter mark after a long absence from competition due to injuries.

Looking Ahead to a Packed Season

Neeraj shared that the decision to compete in the Doha Diamond League was made just a week prior to the event, and he was initially not listed among the competitors. He stated, "It went quite well, and this is just the beginning. There are upcoming competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games later this year, along with more Diamond League events. We aim to refine our technique further for better performance in the future."

A Recap of Last Year's Sensational Season

Despite the setback in Tokyo, Neeraj had an outstanding season last year. He triumphed in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic at the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru, achieving a throw of 86.18 meters.

He began the season with a victory at the Potch Invitational in South Africa in April and followed it with a remarkable second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he recorded a personal best throw of 90.23 meters. Neeraj also secured second place at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland and continued his winning streak with titles at the Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, with throws of 88.16 meters and 85.29 meters, respectively.

In late August, his impressive run continued as he finished second in the Diamond League final in Zurich with a throw of 85.01 meters.