Two-time Olympic medallist and reigning javelin champion Neeraj Chopra launched his 2025 athletics season in style, clinching the gold medal at the Potch Invitational Track event in Potchefstroom, South Africa, on Wednesday, April 16. Competing in a six-man field, Neeraj topped the chart with a winning throw of 84.52 metres, comfortably ahead of the rest and sending a strong signal about his form ahead of the year’s major competitions. This season-opening performance, though below his personal best of 89.94m, was a solid beginning for the Indian javelin ace, who looked in rhythm throughout the contest. His closest competitor, 25-year-old South African Douw Smit, managed a throw of 82.44m—also the only other athlete in the field to breach the 80-metre mark. Other results from the event saw Duncan Robertson (71.22m), Armand Willemse (69.58m), Marques Olivier (68.01m), and Jan-Hendrik Heymans (65.59m) rounding off the final standings.
New Coach, New Goals: Aiming for 90m+ With Jan Zelezny
The 2025 season marks a new chapter in Neeraj Chopra’s career. In a significant coaching change, the 26-year-old has parted ways with his long-time mentor Klaus Bartonietz and is now training under Czech legend Jan Zelezny—the world record holder in men’s javelin with a phenomenal 98.48m throw. Neeraj has been based in Potchefstroom for his pre-season training camp, following his private wedding in January to Himani Mor in Himachal Pradesh. In a conversation with India Today earlier this year, Neeraj expressed optimism about breaching the 90-metre barrier—something that has eluded him despite coming close multiple times.
“Coach Zelezny has made some technical adjustments in my game. One of the mistakes he pointed out was how I was throwing very low, even during the Paris Olympics. I was also leaning too much towards the left. These are small changes, but I believe they will make a big difference,” Neeraj said. Neeraj came close to the elusive mark multiple times in 2024. His throw of 89.45m won him a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, where Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem threw an Olympic record of 92.97m for gold. Later in the season, Neeraj registered 89.49m at the Lausanne Diamond League and finished second at the Diamond League Final in Brussels. Now, under Zelezny's guidance and with renewed motivation, Neeraj is determined to join the elite 90m club—something only a few javelin throwers have achieved in history.
Neeraj's next major appearance is scheduled for the Doha Diamond League on May 16, where he is expected to go up against a world-class field. With the World Athletics Championships set to be held in Tokyo this September, Neeraj is aiming to fine-tune his form and gather momentum leading up to the prestigious global event. Having won the World Championships in 2023, Neeraj is eyeing a successful title defence. The focus is now not just on winning medals, but on pushing performance boundaries, especially as global attention continues to zero in on the high-profile India-Pakistan rivalry in the men’s javelin scene.
In a sport often overshadowed by track events, Neeraj Chopra’s performances have sparked renewed interest and support from Indian fans and global athletics enthusiasts alike. As the 2025 season unfolds, expectations are high for the star athlete to deliver historic milestones—and possibly, finally break that 90-metre mark. With gold already in the bag from his opening meet, Neeraj Chopra’s campaign is off to an encouraging start. The journey ahead includes challenges and opportunities alike, but for India’s javelin king, all eyes are now set on pushing limits and rewriting records.
