Ostrava: Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin star, won the men’s javelin throw on Tuesday, scoring with ease through the 64th edition of the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic; he was throwing a dazzling 85.29 metres. His victim was an obscure South African named Douw Smit.
After a two-month break, Neeraj is back in the frame. For his second consecutive title, following the domestic throw, he shook off eight other challengers. The Olympic doubles medallist scored the only 85-metre throw all night. Smit, a little-known contestant, made an 84.12-metre season best in round two to take over first place. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada took home the bronze with 83.63m.
With his first attempt proving a foul, Chopra opened the night nervously. But he bounced back with an 83.45m throw in round two to leave the surprise leading Smit just 9 centimetres behind after two rounds. He then bettered that mark once again when he produced a distance of 85.29 metres in the third round for a national record and title, but Neeraj did not move up any further following foul distances of 82.17m and 81.01m attempts. “I feel good,” said Neeraj. “But I don’t want to put pressure on myself for 90 metres. I will try really hard,” he stated before the meet.
It was a special competition, held as it was under the guidance of Jan Železný, his coach and the legendary Czech javelin thrower himself, where a 22-year-old punter finished third – further information All thirteenth and final Olympic showdowns featured discussions between two experienced men, who talked in detail about the nuances of javelin technique while the young athlete contributed some of his observations. “It is a huge boost to be working alongside such an incredible sportsman and coach,” Neeraj commented following the meet.
Given the consistency of his results, it should come as no surprise that Neeraj has been on the podium 24 times in a row since the Tokyo Olympics of 2020.
This victory confirms the Golden Boy’s intention to get the joint back in action at a contest in Bangalore that he is hosting on July 5, the Neeraj Chopra Classic. World Athletics has rated the meet as a Category A event. What the young man from India needs now is to give a stellar show in Bangalore and show that he is an international athletics figure, thanks in part to his current success.