Neeraj Chopra kicks off His season with a throw of 84.52 metre in Potchefstroom

Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist, launched his 2025 campaign with a commanding performance at the Potchefstroom Invitational in South Africa, throwing 84.52m to claim gold on Wednesday.

The reigning World champion dominated the six-man lineup in what promises to be a landmark year for global athletics. Neeraj Chopra comfortably outpaced South Africa's 25-year-old Douw Smit, who took second with a best effort of 82.44m.

The two were the only competitors to breach the 80m barrier, with local athlete Duncan Robertson finishing third with 71.22m. Neeraj may not have challenged his personal best of 89.94m, but his early-season performance showed plenty of promise. On the other hand, Smit delivered a strong throw, nearly matching his own mark of 83.29m.

Next up for Neeraj is the Doha Diamond League on May 16, where he will go up against a tougher field. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Chopra took silver with a throw of 89.45m, as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem captured gold with a record-breaking 92.97m.

Neeraj Chopra had a phenomenal season last year. He kicked off with a second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League, registering a superb 88.36m throw. Returning to Indian soil after three years, he clinched gold at the Federation Cup with an effort of 82.27m.

He followed it up with a commanding gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games, throwing 85.97m. The highlight of his year came with a historic silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He capped off the season by competing in two prestigious Diamond League meets.

This season, Neeraj Chopra will aim to defend his World Championships crown in Tokyo, having clinched gold in the 2023 edition in Budapest with a mighty throw of 88.17m. Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem came agonisingly close, settling for silver with 87.82m, while Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch took bronze with 86.67m.

With the season heating up, Chopra will be eager to push boundaries and renew his rivalry with Nadeem as he seeks to extend his legacy in the sport.