Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist, had a strong start to the season by winning the Potch Invitational Track competition in Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist, had a strong start to the season by winning the Potch Invitational Track competition in Potchefstroom, South Africa. At the World Athletics Continental Tour Challenger event on Wednesday, Chopra threw the spear 84.52 meters to the top of the six-man field. The 25-year-old South African Douw Smit, whose best throw was 82.44 meters, was beaten by the Indian star. However, Douw nearly reached his personal best of 83.29 meters, while Chopra’s attempt fell short of his own best of 89.94 meters.
The only two competitors to surpass the 80-meter mark were Chopra and Smit.
Duncan Robertson, a fellow South African, finished third with a 71.22-meter effort.
The Czech Republic’s Jan Zelezny, a three-time Olympic champion and world record holder, has been Chopra’s new coach in Potchefstroom.
Last year, the 27-year-old broke up with Klaus Bartonietz, his longtime German instructor.
On May 16, Chopra is expected to start his top-tier campaign in the Doha Diamond League. He took home gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He had a personal best of 89.94 meters in 2022, and he has been attempting to hit the 90-meter mark for a while now.
