Union Minister Piyush Goyal, long-jump athlete Murali Sreeshankar hail Neeraj Chopra for crossing 90 m mark

India's world champion and Olympic gold medalist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra had an outing to remember, as he became the first Indian to cross the 90 m mark in the sport on Friday. However, after a monstrous throw by Germany's Julian Weber at the Doha Diamond League, he could not secure the top spot on the podium this time.

Taking to X, Union Minister Goyal posted, "90.23m, A historic moment for India as Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Chopra breaches the 90m mark with a career best throw at Doha #DiamondLeague!"

https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1923447211179860413

Indian long-jump athlete Murali Shreeshankar also posted an Instagram story celebrating Neeraj's feat.

Neeraj had the lead till the final round, crossing the 90-m mark with a stupendous throw of 90.23 m, breaking his own national record. However, in the last set of throws, Weber registered a brilliant effort of 91.06 m, dropping Neeraj to second spot. Grenada's Anderson Peters is at number three, with a throw of 85.64 m.

Neeraj had a brilliant start, kickstarting his season with a throw of 88.44 m, with Anderson Peters of Grenada in second place with 85.64 m and Keshorn Walcott of Trinidad and Tobago at third with 84.65 m.

The superstar Indian's second throw was a foul, but he still managed to maintain his lead. Germany's Julian Weber took third place with a throw of 85.57 m.

However, Neeraj's third throw, a monstrous 90.23 m, helped him touch the coveted 90-m mark, extending his lead over his other opponents. He also broke his own national record, bettering his 89.94 m throw registered during the Stockholm Diamond League 2022.

Julian, however, came close, with a throw of 89.06 m.

Neeraj's fourth throw was 80.56 m, and the fifth throw was a foul. However, this still kept Neeraj in the lead, with Julian in second spot and Peters in third spot. However, Neeraj was beaten in the final set of throws, with Weber throwing 91.06 m to outdo the Indian, who finished in second spot with his final throw being 88.20 m. (ANI)