Indian javelin sensation Neeraj Chopra added another feather to his cap by winning the men’s javelin title at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet held in the Czech Republic on 24 June.
The 27-year-old Olympic medallist clinched the top spot with a best throw of 85.29 metres, continuing his rich vein of form this season.
Chopra, who made history by winning India’s first Olympic gold in athletics at Tokyo 2020 and followed it with a silver at the Paris 2024 Olympics, achieved his winning throw on his third attempt.
His effort remained unbeaten across all six rounds, despite the presence of strong international competitors.
Consistent performance, second title in a month
This marks Neeraj’s second major victory in just a month, having recently triumphed at the Paris Diamond League.
While his winning throw in Ostrava fell short of his personal best and the coveted 90m mark, an achievement he had surpassed in previous weeks, it was sufficient to claim the gold in a fiercely contested field.
South Africa’s Douw Smit came in second with a best effort of 84.12m, while Anderson Peters of Grenada finished third, throwing 83.63m.
Neeraj’s outing began with a foul in his first attempt.
He then registered 83.45m in the second round before reaching his winning mark of 85.29m in the third.
Though he could not improve on this in the subsequent rounds, throwing 82.17m in his fourth and 81.01m in his fifth, he had already done enough.
His sixth and final attempt was a deliberate foul, as he opted out of completing the throw upon misjudging the execution.
While the distance may not have met his personal expectations, Chopra’s consistent presence on the top of the podium reaffirms his position as one of the world’s premier javelin throwers.
The Haryana-born athlete remains a strong contender in the international athletics circuit, with eyes now set on further meets and possibly breaching the 90m mark again in the near future.
Eyes on future competitions
With major global competitions lined up in the months ahead, including the World Athletics Championships, Chopra’s form will be critical to India’s medal hopes.
His focus now shifts to maintaining rhythm, avoiding injury, and breaking new ground in upcoming meets.
Chopra’s win in Ostrava continues to inspire a new generation of Indian athletes and reinforces his standing as a national sporting icon.
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