Sports Minister Leads Wishes As 'GOAT' Neeraj Chopra Wins Ostrava Golden Spike

Last Updated:June 25, 2025, 09:39 IST

Neeraj Chopra won the Golden Spike meet with a throw of 85.29m on Tuesday in Czech Republic.

Neeraj Chopra (left) and Mansukh Mandaviya (AFP/PTI)

Neeraj Chopra continued his winning run as on Tuesday, he won the Golden Spike meet in what was his maiden appearance at the event held in Ostrava (Czech Republic). With a throw of 85.29m, the Indian javelin throw superstar, secured the title days after winning the prestigious Paris Diamond League.

Chopra was in third place at the end of the second round after starting with a foul, followed by a throw of 83.45m. He claimed the top spot with his third-round throw of 85.29m, and his subsequent throws were 82.17m and 81.01m, before fouling his final attempt.

South African Douw Smit gave Neeraj a tough fight and finished second with an 84.12m throw in the second round. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada was third with an opening attempt of 83.63m.

Sports Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya praised the 27-year-old for his performance, calling him a ‘true champion’. “Neeraj does it again! Wins the Ostrava Golden Spike with a stellar 85.29m throw. A true champion who makes the nation proud every single time!" Mandaviya posted on X (formerly Twitter).

With Chopra’s German rival Julian Weber absent, the field in Ostrava was relatively thin, making the double Olympic-medallist Indian the favourite for the title.

Despite the presence of his coach Zelezny, who was the event director, the 27-year-old Indian was not at his peak performance.

Chopra had missed the last two editions of the Golden Spike, an event his coach Zelezny won nine times during his illustrious career, due to fitness issues.

He has had an impressive season, winning his first Diamond League title in two years in Paris after surpassing the elusive 90m mark during his second-place finish in the Doha DL in May.

Chopra must be pleased to win the title at the Golden Spike, a venue where world record holder Zelezny excelled during his career. The Czech legend won nine titles between 1986 and 2006, often with 90m-plus throws, in this prestigious event first held in 1961.

Chopra has competed in Ostrava before but not at the Golden Spike. He participated in the IAAF Continental Cup in 2018 as part of the Asia Pacific team and finished sixth with a throw of 80.24m.

After his Paris DL win, Chopra emphasised the need to work on his core muscles for better control of his throws, admitting that his run-up may have been slightly too fast.

Weber had defeated Chopra in the Doha DL on May 16 and the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial meet on May 23 in Poland, but the Indian surpassed him in Paris on June 20 with a first-round throw of 88.16m.

Before Paris, Chopra’s last DL title was in Lausanne in June 2023 with a throw of 87.66m.

Chopra’s next competition will be the NC Classic, which he is hosting in Bengaluru on July 5. Peters and Rohler will also compete in Bengaluru.

With PTI Inputs

Sports Desk

A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports

A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you live updates, breaking news, opinions and photos from the wide world of sport. Follow @News18Sports

News18 Sports brings you the latest updates, live commentary, and highlights from cricket, football, tennis, badmintion, wwe and more. Catch breaking news, live scores, and in-depth coverage. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location :

First Published:

News sports Sports Minister Leads Wishes As 'GOAT' Neeraj Chopra Wins Ostrava Golden Spike