After finally breaching the elusive 90m mark at the Doha Diamond League with a stunning 90.23m throw, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is now gearing up for another elite challenge at the ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet in Chorzow, Poland, on Friday.
Although Chopra’s landmark throw earned him a personal milestone, he narrowly missed out on top spot in Doha. German thrower Julian Weber pulled off a sensational final-round throw of 91.06m, not only upstaging Chopra but also registering his maiden 90m-plus effort.
Star-Studded Field in Poland
The competition in Chorzow will be equally, if not more, formidable. Alongside Chopra and Weber, the men’s javelin field includes:
- Anderson Peters (Grenada, PB: 93.07m) – Two-time World Champion
- Marcin Krukowski (Poland, PB: 89.55m) – Polish record holder
- Cyprian Mrzyglod (Poland, PB: 84.97m)
- Dawid Wegner (Poland, PB: 82.21m)
- Andrian Mardare (Moldova, PB: 86.66m)
- Artur Felfner (Ukraine, PB: 84.32m)
This will be Chopra’s third competition of the 2025 season after Doha and the Potch Invitational in South Africa, where he started his season with a modest winning throw of 84.52m.
“This Is Just the Beginning” – Chopra
The 27-year-old Indian superstar had long targeted the 90m mark, having consistently come close since 2018. With the barrier finally crossed, Chopra is now looking to push the limits even further.
“It was just the beginning,” Chopra said after his Doha throw. “I believe I can have more 90m throws and go farther in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships.”
Chopra credited his recent improvements to working with legendary coach Jan Zelezny, who holds the world record in javelin (98.48m). The partnership began in February this year, and the impact is already being felt.
Crucially, Chopra confirmed he’s no longer hampered by the groin niggle that plagued him in past seasons, allowing him to unleash his full potential this year.
“I feel much better physically now. I wasn’t able to give my best due to the groin issue, but this year I feel confident and injury-free.”
Eye on the World Championships
While the immediate focus is on a strong showing in Poland, the bigger picture remains the World Championships in Tokyo this September, where Chopra will defend his world title.
His planned participation in the NC Classic in Bengaluru had to be postponed due to military tensions between India and Pakistan, making Chorzow a crucial outing to maintain form and rhythm.
What’s Next?
After Chorzow, Chopra will head to the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 24 — an event he was forced to miss in the last two years due to injuries. If form and fitness hold, this could be a golden summer for India’s premier track and field icon.
Quick Facts: ORLEN Janusz Kusocinski Memorial
- Category: World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event
- Founded: 1954
- Named After: Janusz Kusociński, legendary Olympic champion
- Reputation: One of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious track and field meets
Stay tuned as Neeraj Chopra looks to take another giant step in what’s already shaping up to be a historic 2025 campaign.
