After becoming the first Indian to win a World Athletics Championships gold in 2023, Neeraj Chopra had remarked: "I am a thrower and we throwers don't have a finish line. So, I'll keep going." Indeed, he did and the 90m peak was finally scaled at the Doha Diamond League. But like he said, the journey doesn't stop there. India's athletics spearhead will next compete at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet in Chorzow, Poland on Friday (May 23, 2025). Watch the javelin throw event live online. ()
The 27-year-old from Khandra, Haryana was supposed to be hosting the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a world-class athletics event in Bengaluru envisioned by the world-beater, on May 24. But the India-Pakistan conflict put paid to those plans and Chopra is now instead in Poland to keep his season going.
Despite sending his spear to 90.23m in Doha, Chopra ended up second as his familiar rival Julian Weber produced a superlative 91.06m effort in his last attempt to upstage the Indian. The German's maiden 90-plus-metre throw coincided with that of Chopra, and the duo will again battle it out, this time in Chorzow.
While the double Olympic medallist will be eager to get the better of Weber this time, he will also have to contend with two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, who has a personal best (PB) of 93.07m and finished third in Doha with a top throw of 84m.
Home favourite Marcin Krukowski (PB: 89.55m) and his compatriots Cyprian Mrzyglod (PB: 84.97m) and Dawid Wegner (PB: 82.21m), Andrian Mardare (86.66m) of Moldova and Ukraine's Artur Felfner (PB: 84.32m) complete the eight-man field.
Neeraj is no longer plagued by the groin issue that hindered his performance in the previous few years. He is also much more confident after roping in the iconic Jan Zelezny, who holds the world record for the longest-ever throw.
"I and my coach are still working on some aspects of my throw. I am still learning things. We started working together only in February this year," Chopra had said in Doha. "So I believe I can have more 90m throws and I can throw farther distances in the upcoming events this year till the World Championships.
"I was always feeling something in my groin in the last few years. I did not give my best because of that. This year I feel much better."
After this event, Chopra will next feature at the Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic on June 24, hoping to be third time lucky after pulling out in the previous two editions due to injuries.
Neeraj Chopra At Janusz Kusocinski Memorial: Live Streaming Details
When and where will the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet be held?
The Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet will be held in Chorzow, Poland on Friday, May 23, 2025.
When will Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw event begin at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet?
Neeraj Chopra's men's javelin throw event will start at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet at 9:45pm IST on Friday.
Where will Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw event at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet be telecast and live streamed?
Neeraj Chopra's javelin throw event at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 athletics meet will be live streamed on the sport.tbp.pol website. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in India.
(With PTI inputs)
