Chopra Wins Ostrava Golden Spike But Seeks Higher Performance

Neeraj Chopra secured the top spot at the Ostrava Golden Spike event, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, with a throw of 85.29m. Despite the victory, the Olympic champion expressed his desire for a better performance. This marked his first appearance at the meet.

Neeraj Chopra celebrates his victory at the Ostrava Golden Spike 2025.

Chopra's winning throw came in the third round, after a foul on his initial attempt and a throw of 83.45m in the second. He led the field of nine athletes.

"I am not that happy with my performance today, but I am very happy with the trophy I won," Chopra stated. Reflecting on his childhood aspirations, he added, "I used to watch this meeting a lot as a kid. I watched people like Jan Zelezny and Usain Bolt winning the Golden Spike and I dreamt of winning one as well. Now the dream has come true."

His subsequent throws were measured at 82.17m and 81.01m, with a foul in the final round. "I know the javelin throw is very popular in Czechia. The amount of support we were getting from the crowd was crazy. I just wish I could have performed better for them," Chopra commented. Earlier this season, he surpassed the 90m mark at the Doha Diamond League, where he finished second.

The 27-year-old is coming off a Diamond League victory in Paris just days before the Golden Spike meet, demonstrating his consistent form this season. Chopra is now set to compete at the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, where he will face strong competition from Anderson Peters and Thomas Rohler.

Despite not meeting his own expectations, particularly in front of the enthusiastic crowd, Chopra's effort was enough to secure the prestigious Golden Spike title.