Neeraj Chopra's Final Throw Heroics: Silver Again, Streak Intact!

Image Source: Olympics.com

India's Olympic and World Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra made a thrilling final-round display to win second position at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 in Chorzow, Poland. Making a fight out of it despite being cold and soggy and lagging behind for most of the competition, Chopra's fourth and final throw of 84.14 meters continued his incredible four-year run of being at least a top-two finisher at international competitions.

Competition Highlights

Neeraj Chopra ended up second with a personal best throw of 84.14 meters, obtained on his sixth and last effort.
German Julian Weber won gold with a throw of 86.12 meters, the only competitor to breach the 85m mark more than once in the competition.
Grenadian Anderson Peters took third place with a personal best throw of 83.24 meters.

Chopra's Performance and Streak

Chopra struggled in the early rounds, recording fouls and modest throws (81.28m and 81.80m) before delivering his best in the final round to leap from third to second.
This marks Chopra’s 22nd consecutive top-two finish in international competitions, a streak dating back to June 2021 and including his Olympic gold in Tokyo.
It was Chopra's sixth below-85m finish at the elite level after his Tokyo Olympics victory, showing his consistency.

Weather and Field Conditions

The event took place under difficult, cold, and rainy conditions, making it hard for the athletes to get rhythm and traction on the runway.
All three of the podium finishers threw below their season's best, with Weber's consistency being the difference.

Recent Rivalry and Season Outlook

The outcome replicated the recent Doha Diamond League, where Weber edged Chopra by a narrow margin, both breakers crossing the 90m barrier for the first time in their careers.
The next big competitions for Chopra are to be held in Paris (Diamond League, June 20) and Ostrava (Golden Spike, June 24), as he peaks for the World Championships.

Interesting Facts

The Janusz Kusocinski Memorial is Europe's oldest annual athletics meet and a Silver-level event on the World Athletics Continental Tour.
Jan Zelezny, world record holder and Neeraj Chopra's present coach, shares the meet record (91.50m).

Sources: India Today, Olympics.com, Economic Times, Deccan Chronicle, Times of India, Hindustan Times, India Today (Live Coverage), Indian Express