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India's javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra, who has two Olympic medals to his name, has started his 2025 season on a high. Competing at an invitational event held in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Wednesday, April 16, Neeraj Chopra secured a gold medal. This victory came against a field of six athletes at the Potch Invitational Track event, marking a successful start to his competitive year. In this opening performance of the season, Chopra clocked a best throw of 84.52 metres. This distance not only earned him the top spot but also provided a significant boost to his confidence as he embarks on his 2025 campaign. He outperformed 25-year-old South African javelin thrower Douw Smit to claim the gold. Throughout the event, Neeraj displayed promising form, evident in his initial competitive throws of the year.
Neeraj Chopra tops chart in Potchefstroom with 84.52m throw
Notably, Neeraj Chopra and Douw Smit were the only two athletes in the men's javelin final to surpass the 80-meter mark. While Chopra's winning throw fell short of his personal best of 89.94 meters, Smit's performance was remarkably close to his own personal record of 83.29 meters, highlighting the competitive spirit of the event.
THE RESULTS
Neeraj Chopra - 84.52m
Douw Smit - 82.44m
Duncan Robertson - 71.22m
Armand Willemse - 69.58m
Marques Olivier - 68.01m
Jan-Hendrik Heymans - 65.59m
Leading up to the start of the new athletic season, Neeraj Chopra has been engaged in rigorous training in Potchefstroom. His schedule anticipates the initiation of his elite-level competitions at the prestigious Doha Diamond League event, slated for May 16. Following his marriage to his long-time girlfriend, Himani Mor, in a private ceremony held in Himachal Pradesh during January, Neeraj proceeded to South Africa to begin his training regimen for the upcoming season.
In a notable development preceding the 2025 season, Neeraj Chopra concluded his association with his long-standing coach, Klaus Bartonietz. He has since embarked on a new coaching partnership with the esteemed javelin legend, Jan Zelezny. This change in mentorship marks a significant shift as Neeraj prepares for his future competitions. Jan Zelezny, the current world record holder for the longest javelin throw ever recorded, brings a wealth of experience to his new role as Neeraj Chopra's coach. Notably, Zelezny previously mentored the two javelin throwers from the Czech Republic who stood on the podium alongside Neeraj at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing in the silver and bronze medal positions.
Looking ahead to the current season, Neeraj Chopra harbors ambitions of surpassing his personal best throw of 89.94 meters. Goal for the Indian javelin star this year is to finally achieve the elusive 90-metre mark
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