Lt Col Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic and World Champion javelin thrower, secured gold at the Ostrava Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29 metres. His commanding early mark remained unbeaten, placing him ahead of South Africa’s Douw Smit (84.12m) and Grenada’s Anderson Peters (83.63m).
Despite a foul on his final attempt, Chopra’s opening throw sealed the top podium position in a field where no competitor crossed the 86-metre mark. Although the distance fell short of his personal best, the performance reaffirmed his consistency and supremacy on the global athletics stage.
Lt Col Chopra will now return to India for the much-anticipated Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on July 5. The event is expected to feature several international contenders, including Peters and Germany’s Thomas Röhler, making it a marquee javelin clash on home turf.
Earlier in June, Chopra clinched victory at the Paris Diamond League. He also led the Doha leg before being narrowly overtaken by Julian Weber, who threw over 90 metres in the final round.
