Potchefstroom Invitational Meet: Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra Kicks Off Season with 84.52m Javelin in South Africa

Two-time Olympic medal winner Neeraj Chopra won the gold medal at the Potchefstroom Invitational in South Africa. On Wednesday, April 16, he entered the six-man field with his best effort of 84.52 meters.

Neeraj Chopra is a professional Indian track and field athlete, considered one of the biggest throwers of javelins.

Last year, Chopra ranked second in the Lausanne Diamond League, behind Grenada’s Anderson Peters, who finished first with a 90.61-meter shot.

Chopra has performed exceptionally well ahead of next month’s Doha Diamond League. He opened the Potchefstroom Invitational with confidence.

Douw Smit only has Neeraj Chopra and South African javelin, Douw Smit surpassed the 80m in the men’s javelin final on Wednesday. His best shooting percentage is 84.52 m, while Smit’s best shooting percentage is 83.29 million.

Results: POTCH Invitation Meeting

  • Neeraj Chopra – 84.52 m
  • Douw Smit -82.44 million
  • Duncan Robertson – 71.22 m
  • Armand Willemse – 69.58 m
  • Marques Olivier – 68.01m
  • Jan-Hendrik Heymans – 65.59 M

Neeraj Chopra began her new season training at Potchefstroom, South Africa after her wedding to Himani Mor in January. He started his competitive year with a throw of 8.452 billion and is now working with new coach Janželezný and earned his elite-level debut in the Doha Diamond League on May 16.

Chopra won 894,500 silver medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, while Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem set an Olympic record of 9.297,000 to win the gold medal. This Indian golden boy is doing his best to break the elusive 90-meter obstacle.