Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra kicked off his 2025 campaign with a winning performance at the Potch Invitational Track event in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Wednesday, April 16. Competing in a six-man field, the Indian javelin ace secured the top spot with a best throw of 84.52 meters.

Chopra’s effort placed him ahead of South African thrower Douw Smit, 25, who took silver with a mark of 82.44 meters. Only the top two athletes breached the 80-meter barrier in the men’s javelin final, highlighting Chopra’s strong early-season form. Though his winning throw fell short of his personal best of 89.94 meters, it marked a promising start to the season.

Final Standings – Potch Invitational 2025 (Men’s Javelin):

• 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

Chopra has been based in Potchefstroom for pre-season training as he prepares for a packed international calendar. His first major competitive outing of the year is expected to be at the Doha Diamond League on May 16.

Earlier this year, Chopra tied the knot with long-time partner Himani Mor in a private ceremony in Himachal Pradesh. Following the wedding, he traveled to South Africa to resume training.

A major development ahead of the 2025 season was Chopra’s decision to part ways with long-time coach Klaus Bartonietz. He is now training under Czech legend Jan Železný, the current world record holder with a historic throw of 98.48 meters.

Speaking to India Today in February, Chopra shared insights into his training under Železný. He revealed that the new coach has focused on refining technical elements of his throw.

“A 90-meter throw is coming soon,” Neeraj said. “Železný has helped identify certain flaws in my technique. For instance, I was leaning too far to the left and releasing too low—even in Paris. He's made specific adjustments, and I can feel the difference. It’s been a learning process, but I understand what he wants from me now.”

Chopra, who won silver at the Paris Olympics with a best throw of 89.45 meters—just behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem’s gold-winning and Olympic record mark of 92.97 meters—has been pushing to break the 90-meter mark. He came close again at the Lausanne Diamond League with 89.49 meters and placed second in the Diamond League Final in Brussels.

As the 2025 season gathers steam, Chopra is aiming to gain momentum ahead of the World Athletics Championships, set to take place in Tokyo this September, where he will be eyeing a successful title defence.