Neeraj Chopra

Sports Career of Neeraj Chopra | Neeraj Chopra Biography

Neeraj Chopra started the javelin at a young age, with his earliest result appearing on his World Athletics page occurring in 2012 when he was 14 and won the national Indian Junior Championships. The next year, he would compete internationally for the first time, finishing ninth in his qualifying section of the World Youth Championships.

Chopra would continue improving through 2014 and 2015, throwing 81.04 meters at the Patiala Indian University Championships on December 31, 2015, a few days after his 18^th birthday.

Chopra made his European debut the next year, throwing at the Rehlingen Pfingstsportfest in Germany. He ended his 2016 season by throwing a new personal best of 86.48 meters at the World U20 Championships and finishing first.

Chopra consistently threw over 80 meters through 2017. He would then make his Diamond League debut on July 1^st in Paris, throwing 84.67 meters and finishing fifth. He would also compete in the World Championships for the first time this year, throwing 82.26 meters and finishing seventh in his qualifying section.

Rise to International Success

Chopra’s first major global championship victory would come at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, when he threw 86.47 meters to take home gold in 2018. He wouldn’t compete at all in 2019 due to an arm injury that required surgery to remove bone spurs in his throwing elbow. He would only compete once in 2020 due to the global pandemic. In his one 2020 competition, he would throw 87.86 meters in South Africa, setting a new personal best.

Chopra’s next competition didn’t come for another 14 months, but he threw another personal best of 88.07 meters. At the Olympics in Tokyo, he threw 86.65 meters in the prelims, leading his qualifying section. He then bettered this throw with 87.58 meters in the finals, enough to take home gold.

The next year, he opened his season with another personal best of 89.30 meters. His next personal best would come a little over two weeks later when he threw 89.94 meters. At the World Championships, he threw 88.13 meters in the final and finished second behind Anderson Peters. Shortly after the World Championships, he would go on to win the Diamond League Final in Zurich.

Chopra didn’t throw over 89 meters in 2023, but he would have arguably his most successful season. He started by winning Diamond League meetings in Doha and Lausanne before winning his first World Championships with a throw of 88.17 meters. He finished his season by winning the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

In 2024, Chopra had one of his farthest throws in the final of the Olympic Games, throwing 89.45 meters, but he would have to settle for second behind Arshad Nadeem, who threw 92.97 meters.

Despite all his accomplishments, Chopra had to wait until 2025 before breaking the 90-meter barrier. His throw of 90.23 meters came at the Doha Diamond League meeting, the same day that Julian Weber broke the 90-meter barrier for the first time. 

He finished eighth at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, throwing 84.03 meters in the final.

Neeraj Chopra Personal Life and Other Facts | Neeraj Chopra Javelin Thrower

Chopra was born in the village of Khandra. His mother and father were both farmers.

Chopra has two sisters named Savita and Sangeeta Chopra.

As a child, Chopra dealt with obesity and said that he was teased for it when he was a child. He enrolled in a gym after being teased. He decided to try javelin after seeing athletes practicing the event in the stadium where he went to the gym.

In 2025, India hosted the “Neeraj Chopra Classic” track meet, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting. The meeting was originally scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on May 24, but was postponed until July after tensions increased between India and Pakistan. Chopra won the first edition of the event, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Julius Yego.

Chopra was the first Asian javelin thrower to win the Olympic Gold Medal and the World Championships gold medal. He is also the first athletics Olympic gold medalist for India and the youngest ever Indian gold medalist in an individual event.

Neeraj Chopra has worked with several coaches in his professional career, such as Uwe Hohn from 2017–2018, Dr. Klaus Bartonietz from 2019–2024, and world record holder Jan Železný from 2025.

He worked with Jaiveer Singh in his childhood and later with Nassem Ahmad, who made him train with long-distance runners to improve his stamina.

FAQs | Neeraj Chopra

How Many Medals Does Neeraj Chopra Have?

Neeraj Chopra won the Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He also has a gold and silver medal from the World Championships.

Who is Neeraj Chopra’s Wife? | Neeraj Chopra Wedding

Neeraj Chopra married the former tennis player and coach Himani Mor in January 2025.

What Is Neeraj Chopra’s Height?

Neeraj Chopra is about 182 centimeters or 6’0” tall.

Does Neeraj Chopra Have the Olympic Record?

The Olympic Record is held by Jan Železný and is 98.48 meters. Jan Železný is Chopra’s current coach. 

What is Neeraj Chopra’s Longest Throw? | Neeraj Chopra Personal Best Throw

Neeraj Chopra’s longest throw is 90.23 meters, set in Doha in 2025.

2025 Doha Diamond League: Javelin Throwers Chopra and Weber Join 90-Meter Club

Doha Diamond League Results 2025