Under Zelezny's watch, Neeraj Chopra targets 90m breakthrough in Doha

Double Olympic medallist from Haryana aiming for elusive mark at elite Diamond League event

- TRIDIB BAPARNASH

Neeraj Chopra has scaled every peak in javelin throw, from a historic Olympic gold in Tokyo to top honours in the World Championships and the Diamond League. At 27, the poster-boy of Indian athletics has already etched his name into history. And yet, one milestone still eludes his illustrious resume, the 90-metre mark.

With a personal best of 89.94m, he has placed himself within a whisper of that elite club, a mere six centimetres short.

On Friday, when he leads India's biggest ever Diamond League contingent in Doha, it will be the first time in the last four years, he will start the new season without the tag of an Olympic champion, nor as the world's best thrower.

However, the Panipat-born has already taken the first step to reach that final frontier, which separates a champion from a legend, by bringing in the greatest javelin thrower of all time, Jan Zelezny, as his coach.