Chopra Grabs Ostrava Golden Spike Title, Falls Short of Personal Best

Neeraj Chopra secured victory at the Ostrava Golden Spike event, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold, with a throw of 85.29m. Despite the win, the Olympic champion expressed dissatisfaction with his performance. This marked Chopra's first appearance at the meet.

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

Chopra dominated the field of nine athletes, achieving his winning throw in the third round. His initial attempt was a foul, followed by a throw of 83.45m in the second round.

"I am not that happy with my performance today, but I am very happy with the trophy I won," Chopra stated. 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 concluding his 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. He had previously exceeded the 90m mark at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he finished second.

The 27-year-old athlete has maintained strong momentum this season, fresh off a Diamond League win in Paris. Chopra is scheduled to compete next at the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, where he will face competitors Anderson Peters and Thomas Rohler.

Despite his personal disappointment, particularly performing in front of the enthusiastic crowd, Chopra's throw was sufficient to secure the coveted Golden Spike title.