Indian javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra continued his impressive 2025 campaign by clinching victory at the Paris Diamond League with a best throw of 88.16m, narrowly edging out Germany’s Julian Weber (87.88m). The win marked a significant turnaround for Chopra, who had lost to Weber in their previous two encounters this season.
Chopra set the tone early in Paris, launching an 88.16m throw in his very first attempt, a mark that proved unbeatable for the rest of the competition. Though he couldn’t replicate the distance in subsequent throws (recording 85.10m, three fouls, and an 82.89m), his opening effort was enough to secure the win.
Speaking after the event, Chopra credited his recent success.
“I feel really good today. It was a really good start,” Chopra said in a post-race interview.
“I wanted to throw 90 metres again, but the speed was too much today, and I couldn’t control it. Technically, it wasn’t perfect, I went too much left. But a win is a win, and it’s important.”
The Impact of a New Training Group
One of the biggest changes in Chopra’s 2025 season has been his shift to a new training group, working alongside Jan Zelezny, the legendary Czech javelin thrower and three-time Olympic champion.
“It’s going really good,” Chopra said.
“When Jan is around us during training, it’s a very positive feeling. We’re working on some key points, and it’s going really well. I started working with him in February, so it hasn’t been long, but I’m happy with the improvements we’ve made in such a short time.”
After suffering defeats to Weber at the Doha Diamond League (where Weber threw a PB of 91.06m) and the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland, Chopra has shown steady progress. His 90.23m throw in Doha, a new Indian national record, proved he was nearing peak form, and his Paris victory suggests he’s fine-tuning his technique for bigger throws.
Looking Ahead
With the Diamond League finals in Zurich approaching in August and the World Championships later in the year, Chopra’s focus remains on consistency and crossing the 90m mark more frequently.
“The main goal is the Tokyo Worlds,” he emphasized.
“We will work really hard for that.”
Given his rapid adaptation to Zelezny’s training methods, Chopra’s performances could reach new heights in the coming months. His Paris victory signaled that his best throws of the season may still be ahead.
As the Diamond League season progresses, all eyes will be on whether Chopra can maintain this upward trajectory, and perhaps even challenge his own national record once again.
