OSTRAVA, June 25: India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra secured yet another emphatic victory, winning the men’s javelin title at the prestigious Ostrava Golden Spike 2025 athletics meet with a best throw of 85.29 metres. The two-time Olympic medallist delivered the winning throw in his third attempt during the one-day event held on Tuesday.
Chopra’s third-round effort proved unbeatable, as none of the other competitors could surpass it in the remaining rounds. This victory marks his second major title within a month, following his gold medal performance at the Paris Diamond League, continuing his remarkable form this season.
Despite a shaky start, with his first throw ruled a foul and his second attempt measured at 83.45m, the 27-year-old from Haryana bounced back strongly. His third throw sailed to 85.29m—enough to seal the top podium spot. In the remaining attempts, he registered 82.17m, 81.01m, and opted not to complete his final throw after an unsatisfactory release.
Chopra finished ahead of South Africa’s Douw Smit, who managed a throw of 84.12m, and Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who took third with 83.63m.
Though pleased with the win, Chopra may feel a touch of frustration at not breaching the 90-metre mark, a milestone he has crossed in the past and is eager to reach again. Nevertheless, his performance once again demonstrated his consistency, mental strength, and world-class calibre, keeping him firmly at the forefront of global javelin throwing.
Having etched his name in history by winning India’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in athletics at Tokyo 2020, and a silver at Paris 2024, Chopra continues to be a symbol of excellence in Indian sports, inspiring a new generation of athletes with each outing.
