BENGALURU: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra not only secured a dominant victory at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic but also fulfilled a long-held personal dream — to give back to his country and the sport that shaped him.
Competing at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the 27-year-old javelin ace recorded a best throw of 86.18 metres, thrilling a crowd of over 14,500 spectators. The event marked India’s first World Athletics Gold-level competition, an initiative inspired and co-organised by Chopra himself.
“Giving back to my country was a small dream of mine, and with the Neeraj Chopra Classic, that dream came true,” the two-time Olympic medallist shared in a heartfelt social media post. “Winning it was special, but putting the event together — that was even more meaningful.”
He expressed gratitude to fellow athletes, fans, friends, family, and officials who helped bring the historic event to life.
“To the athletes who travelled from afar, we’ll try to make it even better next time. And to everyone who came out to support us at Kanteerava — it was one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever competed in,” Chopra wrote.
The evening began on a shaky note for Chopra with a foul on his first attempt. But he bounced back with 82.99m on his second throw and then electrified the stadium with a massive 86.18m effort on his third, clinching the top spot. He followed it with another foul, an 84.07m fifth throw, and ended with 82.22m in his final attempt.
Kenya’s Julius Yego finished second with his season-best of 84.51m, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage claimed third place with 84.34m.
The Classic adds to an impressive 2025 season for Chopra. He began his campaign with a win at the Potch Invitational Meet in South Africa. He then made headlines at the Doha Diamond League, breaking the elusive 90m barrier with a 90.23m throw — setting a new Indian national record.
Subsequent performances included a second-place finish at Poland’s Janusz Kusocinski Memorial, a win at the Paris Diamond League (88.16m), and another gold at the Ostrava Golden Spike with a throw of 85.29m.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic now stands as a milestone — not just in his athletic journey, but in Indian athletics history — marking a rare moment where an athlete of global repute returned home to build something for the next generation.
“This is just the beginning,” Chopra said. “We’ve planted the seed, and I can’t wait to see it grow.”
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