Neeraj Chopra Wins Golden Spike Title

Neeraj Chopra claimed the Golden Spike title during his debut at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event, despite his own disappointment with his performance. Chopra's top throw reached 85.29 meters, which was sufficient to secure victory in the nine-man competition held on Tuesday. However, the former Olympic champion expressed his dissatisfaction with how he performed. "I'm not entirely pleased with how I did today, but winning this trophy is a significant achievement for me," Chopra said. "As a child, I used to admire this meeting, watching legends like Jan Zelezny and Usain Bolt dominate the Golden Spike. It's a dream come true to have my name alongside theirs," he shared. Although leading the pack, Chopra confessed he didn't meet his own performance expectations, especially with a supportive Czechia crowd. "The javelin throw's popularity in Czechia is undeniable. The audience's enthusiasm was overwhelming, and I regret not delivering a better performance for them," he admitted. Notably, Chopra surpassed the 90-meter mark earlier in the season during a Doha Diamond League event. Chopra achieved his winning throw in the third round after initially fouling and hitting 83.45 meters on his second attempt. His subsequent sequences were 82.17 meters and 81.01 meters, concluding with another foul. Even if the result was modest by his standards, the 27-year-old maintained his excellent season form, having just secured a Diamond League victory in Paris days before. Chopra is set to compete next at the NC Classic in Bengaluru on July 5, where he will face competitors like Anderson Peters and Thomas Rohler.