The pressure is off his back now. Neeraj Chopra has finally put a stop to the most frequently asked question in Indian javelin throw - "When is the 90m throw coming?" - by breaching the 90m barrier at the Doha Diamond League last week.

Neeraj is now expected to throw the javelin to longer distances. Recovered from a groin injury, that troubled him last year, Neeraj has attained full control over his body and is bringing his throwing strategy into effect with power and precision.

Neeraj almost always seems to thrive under pressure - whether it was winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, clinching the World Championships title in 2023, or securing Olympic silver in Paris in 2024.

Before the Diamond League in Doha, where he threw 90.23m, his coach Jan Železný - the world record holder - motivated Neeraj by saying, "This is the right time for the 90m throw." Železný, who normally does not travel with Neeraj to Diamond League events, was present in Doha to witness the big moment of the Indian athlete’s career.

And now the athlete’s former coach, renowned biomechanics expert Dr Klaus Bartonietz - who propelled Neeraj to greatness after his fellow German coach Uwe Hohn exited in 2019 - said the Indian javelin throw star will "go for 92m, 93m or, maybe, 94m throws in future."

Under Bartonietz's tutelage, Neeraj won two Olympic medals and as many World Championships medals. He also defended his Asian Games gold. The 27-year-old, however, was not able to breach the 90m mark. His previous best was 89.94m, achieved at the Stockholm Diamond League on June 30, 2022.

'Smart Training'

"Neeraj has been training with an absolutely wonderful coach (Železný). Železný and I had shared notes and he told me that Neeraj has the ability to realise his dream," Bartonietz, who is now back in India to train budding javelin throwers at the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) Hisar centre, told Times of India.

"Even during the warm-ups, Neeraj trains like he is training for the finals. He was disappointed when he came second with his personal best 90m throw. I am quite sure he will now go for 92m, 93m or, maybe, 94m throws in future. He looks in the best shape of his life, having overcome the troubling groin injury," he added.

Asked what changed in Neeraj that helped him finally achieve the sacred 90m throw - only 26 javelin throwers have achieved the mark since the sport was redesigned in 1986 to make it safer for people in the stands - Bartonietz said, "Železný has a simple training philosophy. He focuses on smart training."

"Neeraj and I had met Železný earlier and even trained together briefly in Potchefstroom (South Africa). So, we both knew his approach. Neeraj was keen to have him on board. Železný has a simple training philosophy. He focuses on smart training. That is what I also did with Neeraj for the 5–6 years," said the German biomechanics expert.

"I cannot see major changes to Neeraj’s approach. He was knocking on the 90m door. It was just about that day and time. With Železný around, it was all about fine-tuning some aspects of his run-up, throwing and landing," added Bartonietz.