South Africa: Neeraj Chopra, India's two-time Olympic medallist, made an impressive return to competition with a dominant performance at the Potch Invitational Meet in South Africa.

The event, held at McArthur Stadium in Potchefstroom, marked Chopra's first competition of the year, and the 27-year-old showed no signs of rust, clinching victory with a throw of 84.52m.

Chopra’s throw, which topped the six-thrower field, was the best performance of the meet. South Africa's Douw Smit secured second place with an 82.44m throw, while compatriot Duncan Robertson finished third with a best of 71.22m. Chopra's 84.52m throw also became the best throw by an Indian in 2025, surpassing previous marks set by Sachin Yadav (84.39m) and Rohit Yadav (80.47m).

In a post-competition update, the Inspire Institute of Sport lauded Chopra’s performance as a “solid start to the season,” setting a positive tone for the 2025 athletics calendar. His victory is seen as a promising signal of more success to come, especially as Chopra prepares for the Diamond League event in Doha, which is just a month away.

This season also marks a new chapter for Chopra, who has teamed up with javelin legend Jan Zelezny after parting ways with long-time coach Dr. Klaus Bartonietz. Zelezny, a world record holder for the longest javelin throw, is expected to be instrumental in Chopra's quest to break the 90m barrier and secure more international medals.

Chopra’s personal best of 89.94m remains within reach as he continues his journey to achieve even greater feats in the world of athletics. His strong start in Potchefstroom has certainly raised expectations, and fans are excited to see what the rest of 2025 holds for the Indian javelin star.