Neeraj Chopra Finishes Second with 84.14m Throw at Janusz Kusocinski Memorial, Julian Weber Claims Gold
Neeraj Chopra delivered yet another commendable performance as he secured the second position at the prestigious Janusz Kusocinski Memorial 2025 held in Chorzow, Poland, with a best throw of 84.14 meters. After making headlines by breaching the much-coveted 90-meter mark in Doha just a week earlier, Chopra maintained his strong form and competitive spirit despite not crossing the 90m barrier this time. The event witnessed intense competition among some of the world’s best javelin throwers, including Germany’s Julian Weber, who ultimately claimed the top spot with a massive throw of 85.11 meters in his final attempt.
The meet featured a strong lineup with elite throwers such as Poland’s Roch Krukowski and Marcin Krukowski, Germany’s Julian Weber, Grenada’s Anderson Peters, Ukraine’s Artur Felfner, Poland’s Cyprian Mrzygłód, and Moldova’s Andrian Mardare. Neeraj Chopra was the sole Indian representative at the meet, while fellow Indian javelin star Kishore Jena, who competed in the Doha Diamond League, did not participate in this Polish event. Notably, Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem was also absent from the competition, as he is preparing to feature in the upcoming Asian Athletics Championships.
Chopra’s outing began with a disqualified throw, giving Weber an early edge with a solid first attempt of 80.77 meters. Anderson Peters also started strong, registering 80.72 meters and securing the second spot after the opening round. Neeraj responded in his second attempt with a mark of 81.28 meters, pushing him into second position temporarily. However, Julian Weber upped the ante by launching an impressive 86.12-meter throw in his second attempt, reclaiming the lead. Peters followed closely with an 81.48-meter throw, setting the stage for a gripping contest.
As the event progressed, Weber maintained his momentum with an 83.72-meter throw in the third round, while Peters remained consistent with 83.24 meters. Neeraj’s third throw, unfortunately, was ruled illegal, keeping him in third place. His fourth attempt also did not count, but the Olympic champion demonstrated resilience and focus in the latter stages. He managed an 81.80-meter throw in his fifth attempt before finishing strong with his best of 84.14 meters in the final round. This effort allowed him to surpass Peters and secure second place. Meanwhile, Peters’ final attempt was disqualified, cementing Chopra’s runner-up finish. Weber, already in the lead, further reinforced his dominance with an 85.11-meter throw in the final round, claiming gold and another high-profile victory over Chopra.
This event follows the dramatic showdown in Doha, where Neeraj Chopra recorded a career-best throw exceeding 90 meters, only to be edged out by Julian Weber, who achieved his personal best of 91.06 meters in the final attempt. The rivalry between the two continues to captivate fans and elevate the sport of javelin throw on the global stage.
Neeraj Chopra’s consistency and elite-level performance reinforce his position as one of the world’s top javelin throwers, and his duel with Julian Weber is fast becoming one of the most exciting narratives in athletics today. As the season progresses and major events like the Asian Athletics Championships and Paris 2024 Olympics draw closer, fans can expect more thrilling contests from the Indian star.
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