The annual Golden Spike athletics tournament gets underway in the Moravian-Silesian city on Tuesday and one of the most anticipated events will be the men’s javelin throw, featuring India’s national hero, Neeraj Chopra.
Gout Gout, Jan Železný and Neeraj Chopra|Photo: Pavel Lebeda, ČTK
Chopra is widely regarded as one of the greatest javelin throwers of all time. He made history by becoming the first Indian to win Olympic gold in athletics. At just 23, he also became the youngest Indian to win an Olympic gold medal in an individual event and the only one to do so on his Olympic debut.
He’s a double medallist at the Olympics, the World Championships, and the Asian Games, and also a Diamond League champion. Since 2016, he’s held the Indian national record in the men’s javelin and has steadily improved it. Most notably, he breached the elusive 90-metre barrier with a throw of 90.23 metres in Doha, once again resetting the national record.
Last November, Chopra joined the elite training group of Jan Železný, widely considered the greatest javelin thrower in history. Železný still holds the world record with a throw of 98.48 metres, set back in 1996.
Neeraj Chopra, the winner in Men’s Javelin Throw during the Meeting de Paris 2025|Photo: Jean-Marie Hervio, KMSP / KMSP via AFP / Profimedia
Speaking to Radio Prague ahead of the event, this is what Chopra had to say about working with his legendary coach:
“I feel really good that I’m working with Jan. He’s the greatest javelin thrower in history and for me, a legend. What he did for the Czech Republic and for the javelin community is huge. He has also helped me a lot with a few things. His perspective is very different from other coaches.”
Chopra also praised Železný for his thoughtful and intuitive coaching style and for not being overly strict.
“I like to work hard and always try to do a bit more, but Jan often tells me, ‘No, that’s enough. Everything is going well.’ Sometimes, when I train or go into competition, I feel like I want to push myself further, but Jan tells me it’s okay, I’m doing well, and not to overdo it.
“It is tough to change some habits, but training is going really well. In competition, I still need to implement what we practice. But I really like him; he was a great athlete, and he’s a great coach too.”
Gout Gout and Neeraj Chopra|Photo: Libor Kukal, Radio Prague International
Chopra comes to Ostrava straight from his recent win at the Paris Diamond League, where he defeated Germany’s Julian Weber for the first time in three meetings this season. And Tuesday’s event will mark his debut at the Golden Spike:
“Last year, I wanted to compete in the Golden Spike in Ostrava, but I had a groin injury and had to miss it. Still, I talked to Alphonse and Jan and came just to meet the people and feel the atmosphere. I was in Spala, Poland, so it was just a two-hour drive. I feel really good to finally be here now, and I feel fit. It’s a good feeling.”
Since joining Jan Železný’s training group, Chopra now spends a lot of time in Czechia. And while he expected to fly a bit more under the radar here than back home, that hasn’t quite happened:
“Maybe it’s because of Jan, Jakub, Barbora Špotáková, and other great Czech javelin throwers. People here really love javelin. Yesterday, I trained at the stadium, and there were many junior athletes, maybe because of an athletics meet. They recognized me, came to meet me, and took pictures. But I don’t mind. I like meeting young talents and athletes. It’s nice that people here know about athletics and javelin.”
Neeraj Chopra in Ostrava|Photo: Libor Kukal, Radio Prague International
In a way, Chopra has become something of a Czech ambassador to India. When asked what Czech things he’d recommend to his fellow Indians, here’s what he told Radio Prague:
“First of all, I’d tell Indian people, if they want to visit Europe, they should come to Prague. I saw the city and the Old Town this year and really liked it. Also, Czech crystals are very famous, and I tried Czech dumplings too, I liked them. So yes, I’d tell people to try those things.”
And who knows? One day, Czechia might even honour Chopra the way Ostrava did sprinting legend Usain Bolt, whose name now adorns the iconic Bolt Tower. Asked whether he’d like to see a Chopra Tower one day, he replied with a smile:
“But I think Usain Bolt was a legend in track and field. I’m happy that you tell me this. If I have just one room near his tower — that’s also okay for me. I don’t need a big tower or big building. After the Tokyo Olympics, there was one stadium in Pune, India, named after me: the Neeraj Chopra Stadium. That felt good. It’s a nice feeling.”