Throngs of spectators attend Chopra's personal event, the star javelin thrower from India capitalizing on celebrity status
In a significant move to boost Indian athletics, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has announced plans to expand the Neeraj Chopra Classic from a javelin-only event into a multi-event athletics competition. This ambitious transformation aims to provide broader global-level exposure to Indian athletes on home soil, nurturing various athletic disciplines and encouraging competitive standards.
The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic is set to take place on July 5, 2025, at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium. As the first international javelin competition with World Athletics Gold status in India, the event promises high-quality international participation, featuring top global javelin throwers alongside Indian talent. This prestigious level of competition is expected to raise the profile of Indian athletics on the international stage.
Chopra's vision for the Classic extends beyond the javelin throw, with intentions to include additional athletic events in future editions. By doing so, he hopes to create a platform that fosters the growth of various athletic disciplines, allowing Indian athletes to gain critical experience against world-class competitors without the need for extensive travel abroad. This strategic move is seen as a potential catalyst for elevating Indian athletics, encouraging competitive standards, enhancing training infrastructure, and inspiring a broader generation of athletes.
During the recent javelin Neeraj Chopra Classic event, Chopra demonstrated his dominance, winning the gold medal with a throw of 86.18 meters. Apart from Chopra, Asian Athletics Championships silver medallist Sachin Yadav also performed well, recording his best throw of 82.33m in the third attempt. Yadav, however, suffered a setback when he twisted his ankle in his opening throw during the event.
Chopra expressed his delight at the large number of spectators at the event, which drew over 14,500 people. He also expressed his optimism about the future performance of Indian athletes in the event, stating that Indian athletes were happy to play alongside world champions.
Chopra's efforts to raise interest for athletics in India have been evident, with more than 14,500 spectators attending the javelin Neeraj Chopra Classic event and over nine million followers on Instagram. His influence extends beyond the sport, as he has long championed greater public support for track and field events in the country.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic event featured three rounds with six attempts per participant, with the top eight athletes qualifying for the final round. In the final round, Chopra outperformed international athletes such as former Olympic champion Thomas Rohler and the Czech Republic's Martin Konecny, securing his place as the event's champion. Rumesh Pathirage finished third in the event, while Julius Yego finished second. Five Indian athletes competed in the event, with three advancing to the second round.
In summary, the key plan for the Neeraj Chopra Classic is to transform it into a multi-event athletics meet, thereby boosting Indian athletics through enhanced international competition, athlete development, and increased visibility of the sport within the country. The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled for July 5, 2025, marks an important step towards achieving this goal.
- With the expansion of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a diverse range of athletic events may potentially include silver-medal-worthy sports like football, allowing Indian athletes to showcase their skills against international competitors.
- Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra's social media influence, with over nine million followers on Instagram, plays a vital role in raising interest in lesser-known sports like javelin throw, significantly increasing its popularity in India.
- Previous editions of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, such as the javelin event, have attracted high-quality international participation and investment, with top global athletes competing alongside Indian talent, offering them valuable experience and opportunities to improve their skills.
