According to reports from the Ostrava Golden Spike athletics meet, India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra secured another impressive win in the men’s javelin throw on Tuesday, despite being pushed hard by a lesser-known South African thrower.
Competing at the historic Mestský Stadion in Czech Republic, Neeraj delivered a winning throw of 85.29 metres in his third attempt the only 85m+ mark of the evening to claim the top spot.
The 64th edition of the Ostrava Golden Spike carried extra meaning this year, as Neeraj was throwing under the watchful eye of his coach and javelin legend Jan Železný, who is also the meet director and long-time record holder with a massive 94.64m throw from 1996.
Neeraj Holds Off Surprise Challenge from Smit
While two-time world champion Anderson Peters opened with a strong 83.63m, the surprise came from South Africa’s Douw Smit, who threw a personal best of 84.12m to temporarily take the lead. Neeraj responded in style during the third round, retaking the lead with a smooth 85.29m a mark that eventually sealed his third win of the 2025 season.
Despite the victory, Neeraj appeared visibly unsatisfied with his execution. Throughout the event, he was seen discussing technical adjustments with Železný, particularly around his release technique and body control.
His final attempt ended with a stumble and foul, and he seemed frustrated, shaking his head multiple times. However, as he walked back to the group of competitors, he broke into a smile happy to add another win to his growing legacy.
A Quick Turnaround for the Indian Star
This event came just days after Neeraj’s win at the Paris Diamond League, highlighting his quick recovery and packed competition schedule. Normally known for spreading out his appearances, the back-to-back events underline how important this competition was especially as it’s held in his coach Železný’s home country.
Neeraj’s next stop is even closer to home: the NC Classic, his own invitational javelin meet in Bengaluru, which is scheduled for the upcoming weekend. Given the tight schedule, he may have held back a little, focusing more on technique refinement than sheer distance.
Since June 2021, Neeraj has finished in the top two of every event he has entered a remarkable run of consistency for the reigning Olympic and world champion.