Ostrava Golden Spike: Neeraj Chopra clinches top prize with 85.29m throw, only athlete to breach 85m-mark at event
India's ace javelin thrower
continued his winning streak this season by bagging the men's javelin title at the 64th Ostrava Golden Spike meet in the Czech Republic on Tuesday. Competing for the first time at this prestigious World Athletics Continental Tour Gold-level event, Chopra secured victory with a best effort of 85.29 metres.
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Fresh from his Paris Diamond League triumph on June 20, where he threw 88.16m to edge out close rival Julian Weber, Chopra once again underlined his consistency despite not hitting his personal peak. Chopra was at third at the end of the second round after opening with a foul before a 83.45m throw. But he jumped to the top spot with his third round effort of 85.29m, taking him clear of the field as the only athlete on the night to breach the 85m mark.
He recorded 82.17m and 81.01m in his next two throws before fouling his final attempt.
South Africa's Douw Smit finished second with a best throw of 84.12m, which came in his second attempt, while Grenada's Anderson Peters, the 2019 World Champion, claimed third place with a 83.63m throw in his first attempt.
The Ostrava meet holds special significance for the 27-year-old Chopra as it is directed by his personal coach and javelin legend Jan Zelezny, who himself is a a three-time Olympic gold medallist who won this event nine times during his decorated career.
Chopra had skipped the last two editions due to fitness concerns but marked his debut appearance this year with a confident performance.
Chopra's 2025 season has been impressive so far. He started with a strong showing at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he crossed the elusive 90m barrier for the second time in his career en route to a second-place finish. He followed it up with a commanding win at the Paris Diamond League and has now secured back-to-back titles with the Ostrava triumph.
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Chopra fouled his first and final throws but had already done enough to top the nine-man field and maintain his winning momentum ahead of bigger competitions later in the season.
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Who do you think is Neeraj Chopra's biggest competitor this season?
Julian Weber Douw Smit Anderson Peters
With fitness and form aligning well, the Olympic and World Champion looks well on course as he builds towards defending his titles on the biggest stages.
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