Doha DL: Neeraj Chopra rewrites national record, finishes fourth

Neeraj finished a creditable fourth, behind Germans Thomas Rohler (91.78) 2. Johannes Vetter (91.56) 3. Andreas Hofmann ( 90.08m) in the Diamond League season opener.

Neeraj Chopra came up with a personal best throw of 87.43m at the Doha Diamond League.

World junior champion Neeraj Chopra shattered his own national record with an impressive 87.43m effort at the Diamond League season-opener in Doha on Friday.

The 20-year-old World No. 6, also the Commonwealth Games and Asian champion, bettered his previous best, the 86.48m throw that broke the under-20 World record and brought him junior World gold in 2016, by nearly a metre!

That, however, could not bring him a medal and Neeraj finished fourth with Germany’s Olympic champion Thomas Rohler (91.78m), World champion Johannes Vetter (91.56) and Andreas Hofmann (90.08) taking the top three medals.

Neeraj opened with an 81.17m effort and after his big throw, he had three consecutive fouls and a weak last round of 81.06.

Neeraj will next take part in the Eugene (United States) leg of the Diamond League series on May 26 and there again he will be up against Rohler, Vetter, Hoffman and Vadlejch.

Neeraj Chopra's Doha performance: As  it Happened