Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra gained his second occasion of 2025 after a 85.29m throw was sufficient for him to assert the javelin throw title on the Ostrava Golden Spike occasion. The occasion is organised by Neeraj’s private coach Jan Zelezny, who holds the present javelin throw world report. Apart from Neeraj, Rio Olympics gold medallist Thomas Rohler was additionally competing within the occasion.
The victory marks Neeraj’s second win of the yr after he claimed the Paris Diamond League title final week. Earlier than this, he ended second in a few occasions to Germany’s Julian Weber, notably on the Doha Diamond League meet and on the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial occasion.
All of the 4 occasions didn’t see reigning Olympic champion from Pakistan Arshad Nadeem competing. Arshad has been coaching in Pakistan and has competed selectively this season to this point. Arshad did compete on the Asian Athletics Championship final month, which Neeraj had skipped. There, the Pakistani javelin thrower had secured a gold medal with an 86.40-meter throw.
The World Athletics Championships can be held in Tokyo from September 13-21.
Speaking to reporters again in Pakistan a couple of days earlier than the Ostrava Golden Spike occasion, Arshad was requested about his plans for the season.
“My focus is on the World Athletics Championships and I’m working onerous for that,” Arshad mentioned. “It is rather scorching in Lahore. I’m going to England quickly and can be coaching there for a month.”
Arshad had shattered the Olympic javelin report with a throw of 92.97 metres on the Paris Olympics final yr, pipping Neeraj to the highest of the rostrum. Arshad’s gold medal additionally prevented the Indian from defending his personal gold from the pandemic-affected Tokyo Olympics.
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Arshad was the chief visitor for a World Olympic Day celebration in Lahore earlier this week.
“It’s a matter of satisfaction for athletes to have a good time today and I’m proud that I’m celebrating it as an Olympic gold medallist for the primary time,” Arshad mentioned. “My message to the kids is to remain centered. I got here from a small place and gained a gold medal. So, in the event that they work onerous, they can also win medals.”
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