The Journey of Neeraj Chopra

by | Aug 8, 2025 | Sports

Despite his young age, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has already etched his name in the history books by becoming the first and only track and field athlete from the country to win an Olympic medal — that too, a gold. Neeraj Chopra was unable to defend his Olympic title at Paris 2024, but walked away with a silver medal. His best throw of 89.45m was second only to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who claimed gold with a record-breaking 92.97m effort. He is a world champion — India’s first-ever Diamond League winner. Neeraj’s journey began when he watched the sport at Shivaji Stadium in Panipat. With the natural ability to throw over 40m without any training, his talent was undeniable. Since winning the Olympic gold in 2021, Neeraj has become one of the most loved and successful athletes in India.

YearEventAchievementsDistance
2016World U20 ChampionshipGold & Junior World Record86.48 m
2018Commonwealth GamesGold86.47 m
2018Asian GamesGold88.06 m
2021Olympic Games (Tokyo)Gold87.58 m
2024Olympic Games (Paris)Silver89.45 m

Neeraj Chopra began his 2025 Diamond League season with a historic performance in Doha on May 10, where he broke the 90-meter barrier for the first time in his career, recording a personal best of 90.23 m. Despite the milestone, he finished second to Germany’s Julian Weber, who won the event with a dramatic final-round throw of 91.06 m. A month later, on June 20, Chopra returned to the top of the podium at the Paris Diamond League, clinching victory with an 88.16 m throw on his first attempt. The Paris meet was one of 15 legs in the 2025 Diamond League, which began in Xiamen on April 26 and will conclude with the season Final in Zürich on August 27–28. Chopra’s consistent top-tier performances across these events have made him a leading contender heading into the final phase of the series.

YearEventAchievementsDistance
2022StockholmFirst89.94 m
2022LausanneFirst89.08 m
2022Zurich(Final)First88.44 m
2023DohaFirst88.67 m
2023LausanneFirst87.66 m
2023Eugene(Final)Second83.80 m
2024DohaSecond88.36 m
2024LausanneSecond89.49 m
2024Brussels(Final)Second87.86 m
2025DohaSecond90.23 m
2025ParisFirst88.16 m

In a sport largely dominated by European nations, Neeraj has proven that an Indian can not only compete — but win — at the highest level. From a small village to the top of the world rankings, his story is built on discipline, patience, and a heart that refuses to stop growing. A Look at Neeraj Chopra’s Performances Across Diamond League Events.

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