 "Neeraj Chopra Classic may not match Olympic glory, but star athlete's new venture is no less meaningful")
7.8.2021. A red-letter day in Indian athletics history. The day when a 23-year-old Neeraj Chopra hurled the javelin 87.58m away, not the biggest of throws, but the farthest in a highly competitive field, to become India's first track and field athlete to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Also the first Asian to win the men’s javelin throw gold at the Summer Games, breaking the hegemony of the Europeans on the sport and sparking a revolution in South Asia.
Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem bettered Neeraj at the Paris Olympics, three years later, with two 90-plus throws as the Indian took the silver with a 89.45m throw. Neeraj lost gold, but Nadeem’s top prize was a result of the confidence the star Indian athlete had infused in the South Asian Community.
Another display of how revolutionary his work has been was on display during the 2023 World Championships, when three Indians, including Neeraj, DP Manu and Kishore Jena, qualified for the final of the men’s javelin throw for the first time. Not surprisingly, Neeraj won the competition, becoming the first Indian to win a historic World Championship gold medal.
India awaits new athletics milestone
Now he’s ready to script another history, not just an athlete but also as a co-organiser with Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025. A first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event in India on 5.7.2025 in Bengaluru. Will it prove to be another red-letter day for Indian athletics? You bet it would.
That Neeraj is going to take part in a tournament named after himself and organised by World Athletics in partnership with the Athletics Federation of India, JSW Sports and the 27-year-old athlete is an achievement no Indian would have imagined before that fateful day in August 2021.
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One gold-winning throw changed the course of Indian athletics and Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 plans to do the same. With 2016 Rio Games gold medallist Thomas Rohler and silver medal winner Julius Yego part of the 12-man strong field including budding Indians Sachin Yadav, Asian Championship silver winner, Rohit Yadav, Sahil Silwal and Yashvir Singh, the aim is to inspire an entire generation of upcoming Indian athletes.
“First of all, I want to thank you, Julius, Thomas and everyone else from the heart of India,” an emotional Neeraj said in the press conference on the eve of the competition. “All are good friends of mine and thank you so much for coming. Finally, we are sitting here with such great throwers. I am very happy that such an event is happening in India
“I never thought such an event would take place. I am at peace that finally, such an event is taking place, that finally, I am able to give something back to India.”
Chopra added: “I have got a lot of support, this event is targeted to help nurture talents. My wish is that India hosts four to five such international events every year.”
What Kenya’s Yego, also known as “Mr YouTube” for learning the sport by watching videos, said next gave more authority to the fact that the balance of power in the javelin world and to some extent in athletics is shifting, led by Neeraj. It is not just about the Americans and the Europeans anymore.
“Firstly, I want to say thank you to India for supporting [Neeraj] Chopra in this initiative,” Yego said. “You might see it as a small event, but it is actually very big. You know, when I was growing up, we thought of javelin as a European event. It is no longer confined to one region.
“With Neeraj coming up with this initiative, the event has grown even bigger. When my manager informed me about this event by Neeraj Chopra, the next thing I said was, ‘Yes, I have to go to India because Chopra is my good friend.’ The rest is history.”
Sachin, the 25-year-old Indian who won the National Games earlier this year, is going to be one of the biggest beneficiaries. “First of all, I would like to thank Neeraj for inviting me to this competition,” Sachin said. “I am very excited to play. The world’s best players are here, and I will be competing with them, that too, in India. I am feeling very good to be part of this historic event. When I got the message, I couldn’t believe it was Neeraj who had invited me to the competition. I felt very proud.”
The “historic event” is now a few hours away and Neeraj has been busy doing a lot of legwork as the co-organiser. But he’s hopeful, he can do well on the field.
“My inner athlete isn’t tired, it is practising hard. I have my sights set on the event,” Neeraj said.
Well, he shouldn’t worry, because he enters the competition on the back of two consecutive wins, so a victory or a strong performance from “Mr Consistent” would hardly be a surprise. Though performing in front of home fans may add a bit of pressure.
But then that’s the aim, to leave a lasting impression on Indian fans, athletes and the sports community.
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