"Quite happy I achieved over 85 metres after so long...": Neeraj on his comeback performance in Doha
New Delhi, June 20
India's two-time Olympic medalist and former world champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra expressed happiness with his comeback performance at Doha Diamond League despite his fourth-place finish, saying that it was great to have achieved a very good throw after being away from competition due to an injury lay-off and expressed optimism that with further refinement to his technique, the performances will be even better later this year.
Neeraj, who was honoured with the 'Best Male Athlete of the Year 2025' at the inaugural Athletics Federation of India (AFI) awards in New Delhi on Saturday, made a comeback after a nine-month layoff during the Doha Diamond League yesterday, with a best throw of 85.69 metres, which helped him achieve the fourth position. Before this, he had competed in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last September, where he failed to defend his world title, finishing eighth with a modest throw of 84.03 metres and was outshone by fourth-placed Sachin Yadav.
However, speaking on his comeback, Neeraj sounded really optimistic despite missing out on the podium finish, expressing his satisfaction at having crossed the 85 m mark after so long staying away from the game due to injuries.
He said, "Definitely, I have returned after a long time now, and it has been a return with a very good throw. And I was just saying that, being realistic, you cannot always maintain that same level of performance. I am quite happy that I achieved over 85 meters in the very first competition after so long."
Neeraj also revealed that the decision to compete at the Doha Diamond League, where he crossed the 90 m mark with a throw of 90.23 m under the coaching of Jan Zelezny last year, was made just a week back. Initially, Neeraj was not even advertised for the event, with his name missing from the list of competitors.
"Still, it went quite well, and that is it, for the future now... this is just the start. There are competitions ahead, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games at the end of the year, and Diamond Leagues in between. So we hope that by then we will refine our technique further and the performance will be even better," he signed off.
Other than the Tokyo setback, Neeraj enjoyed a sensational season last year. Chopra took the top honours in the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a competition named after him at Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru in July. Then-reigning javelin throw champion stood triumphant with 86.18m.
Neeraj kickstarted the season with a win at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and followed it up with a very special second-place finish at Doha Diamond League in May, where he crossed the 90-metre mark for the first time ever, with a throw of 90.23 m.
He also went on to secure a second spot in the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month and resumed his winning ways with back-to-back titles at Paris Diamond League and Ostrava Golden Spike, with best efforts of 88.16 m and 85.29 m.
In late August, Chopra's streak of top two finishes at events continued as he secured the second spot with the best throw of 85.01 m during the Diamond League final in Zurich.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, as someone who follows athletics from abroad, I think Neeraj's performance is impressive for a comeback. Many top athletes struggle after long breaks, and to hit 85.69m in the first competition back shows his class. The fact that he's already aiming to refine technique for later this year shows he's thinking long-term. The Asian Games and CWG are definitely within reach if he stays consistent.
I'm so relieved to see Neeraj back in action! 😊 That injury layoff had me worried, but he's proven once again why he's India's golden boy. The fourth place doesn't matter – what matters is that he's healthy and improving. And the fact that he decided to compete just a week before the event shows his confidence. Can't wait to see him throw 90m+ again. The Neeraj Chopra Classic being named after him is just the cherry on top!
Good to see Neeraj back, but let's be brutally honest here – we need to manage expectations. He finished eighth in the World Championships last year and now fourth here. Yes, he's coming back from injury, but the competition is getting tougher. Sachin Yadav is breathing down his neck, and international athletes are setting higher standards. I hope the AFI and his team focus on proper rehabilitation and technique work rather than rushing into too many events. A focused build-up for the Asian Games and CWG would be ideal.
Yaar, this is such a relief! After that heartbreaking World Championships where he finished eighth, I was really worried about his form. But look at him now – 85.69m in his first competition back? That's pure class. 😍 I love how humble he remains despite being a two-time Olympic medalist. The way he talks about refining technique shows he's not resting on his laurels. Our boy is
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