Neeraj Chopra Kicks Off 2025 with Gold at Potchefstroom Invitational Meet
India’s javelin throw star, Neeraj Chopra, started his 2025 season in style by winning the javelin throw title at the Potch Invitational Meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa. With a throw of 84.52m, Neeraj beat a six-man field at the iconic McArthur Stadium, the same venue where he qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics five years ago. This victory marked his first competition under new coach Jan Zelezny, a three-time Olympic champion and world record holder from Czechia.
Neeraj surprised fans by competing in Potchefstroom, as many expected him to start his season at the Doha Diamond League on May 16, 2025, like he did in 2023 and 2024. However, the 27-year-old chose the Potch Invitational Meet to get his first competitive throws of the year. His 84.52m effort was enough to secure gold, beating South Africa’s Douw Smit, who threw 82.44m for silver. Duncan Robertson took bronze with 71.22m, while Armand Willemse (69.58m), Marques Olivier (68.01m), and Jan-Hendrik Heymans (65.59m) finished fourth, fifth, and sixth. Only Neeraj and Smit crossed the 80m mark, showing their dominance in the event.
Although Neeraj Chopra’s winning throw was below his personal best of 89.94m, set at the Stockholm Diamond League in 2022, he looked confident and in good shape. The Potchefstroom meet was a warm-up for a busy season, and Neeraj didn’t push himself too hard, focusing on rhythm and technique under Zelezny’s guidance.
NEERAJ CHOPRA IS BACK ON THE FIELD 🚀
Champion Neeraj Chopra starts the 2025 season with a throw of 84.52m at the NWU Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa 🇿🇦
pic.twitter.com/nzQEia8OWd— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) April 17, 2025
Neeraj Chopra with Coach Jan Zelezny
This was Neeraj’s first event since switching coaches from Klaus Bartonietz to Jan Zelezny, whose world record of 98.48m still stands. Neeraj has been training with Zelezny in Potchefstroom, working on technical improvements to chase the elusive 90m mark. In an interview, Neeraj said Zelezny helped him fix mistakes, like throwing too low and leaning left during his throws at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
The 2025 season is crucial for Neeraj, who aims to defend his World Championships gold medal in Tokyo from September 13 to 21. The event will be held at Tokyo’s National Stadium, where Neeraj won his historic Olympic gold in 2020 with an 87.58m throw. This time, he’ll face tough competition, especially from Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, who beat him for gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics with an Olympic record of 92.97m. Nadeem, the 2023 World Championships silver medalist, will be eager to challenge Neeraj again.
Before the World Championships, Neeraj will compete in the Doha Diamond League and headline the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Panchkula, Haryana, on May 24, 2025. The NC Classic, a World Athletics Continental Tour ‘A’ category event, will feature top javelin throwers and serve as a qualifier for the World Championships. Neeraj, who is also an organizer with JSW Sports, hopes to make this event a regular on the global athletics calendar.
