By Abhishek Mishra
The Neeraj Chopra Classic international javelin event was originally scheduled to take place at Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex but has now been shifted to Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium. The change of venue was necessary as the Panchkula site lacked the facilities required for a World Athletics Category A event. The competition will still take place on the same date—24 May 2025—with Neeraj Chopra himself confirming the change.
In a live online press conference today, two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra confirmed that the NC Classic Javelin Meet will be held at the Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru, and that the event will go ahead on the originally scheduled date.
“It wasn’t my sole idea. It had been a long-time dream of mine. I used to wonder whether it would ever be possible for world-class athletes to come to India and compete, and for our athletes to get the chance to face them on home soil. I was inspired by a few athletes, and I had conversations with coach Jan Železný, as well as some of the athletes I train with — they suggested that this tournament be named after me. As you know, there’s the Mondo Classic, named after Mondo Duplantis, and a few other similar events. Inspired by those, I felt something like that should happen in India too. Now, it’s finally happening — and I’m very excited,” said Neeraj Chopra.
“When I started the sport, I never thought I would play for India. But things began to align — I worked hard, took it step by step, and carved my path to the international stage. When I started participating in the Diamond League, the idea came to mind. After winning the Olympic medal, it gave me the confidence to believe that something like this could happen in India. It’s tough to believe, but it’s happening.”
The event comes under Category A of World Athletics and is listed on the World Athletics website. It will be organised through a collaboration between former world champion Neeraj Chopra and JSW Sports. Initially, the tournament was to take place in Neeraj’s home state, Haryana, with the venue set as the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex in Panchkula. As the tournament is listed under Category A, it required certain standards to be met. However, the floodlighting at the Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex was found to be inadequate for a night-time international athletics event. According to floodlight requirements for a World Athletics Category A event, an average horizontal illuminance between 500–750 lux is typically necessary. This level of lighting ensures optimal visibility for athletes and meets the quality standards required for international video broadcasting. Since the Panchkula venue failed to meet these lighting requirements, the decision was taken to shift the event to the Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
For Neeraj, this event represents something truly special. “Back when I was competing abroad 2–3 years ago, this was just an imagination for me. I never knew it would actually become possible. But today, with the support of AFI, JSW, and WAF, that dream is turning into reality. Hosting a tournament in India is a long-standing dream coming true — one that feels very different from the medals I’ve won at the Olympics or the World Athletics Championships. Those medals are safely kept at home, but bringing a world-class event to my country feels like I’ve truly done something for India. And that makes me even prouder.”
When the tournament was announced, one question echoed among fans — who will be competing? The star Indian javelin thrower has revealed a few names: Anderson Peters (two-time World Champion), Thomas Röhler (Rio 2016 gold medallist), Julius Yego (Rio 2016 silver medallist), Curtis Thompson (current world leader), and hinted that Luiz Maurício Dias da Silva — a Paris 2024 finalist from Brazil — will also be participating. Arshad Nadeem, the Paris Olympics gold medallist, has also received an invitation.
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🚨 @Neeraj_chopra1 on #NeerajChopra Classic 2025!
The thought process behind having a tournament named after him! The Olympic champion mentions the Mundo Classic named after @mondohoss600!@jswsports pic.twitter.com/ctBNDwdbO1
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“We’ve reached out to Arshad, but his participation is still pending confirmation. He’ll make a decision after consulting with his coach,” said Neeraj Chopra.
Neeraj also hinted that a few more international throwers can be expected to come to India, and that there will be four to five Indian names alongside the top international throwers. He also confirmed, with a laugh, that he will be participating in the Neeraj Chopra Classic. As the event falls under the World Athletics Category A, it’s a good opportunity for Indian javelin throwers to earn valuable points on the Road to Tokyo.
Speaking about balancing his training while working with the organisers on planning and logistics, Neeraj said with a smile. “Earlier, I used to be deeply involved in the preparations, constantly discussing things with the team and giving them ideas. But now that the event is happening in Bengaluru, at the Kanteerava Stadium — home to the JSW-owned Bengaluru FC — they know exactly how to handle things. It’s a big relief for me, and now I can fully focus on my training.”
Neeraj expressed hope that more events will be added to the Neeraj Chopra Classic from next year. While this edition features only javelin, he said, “From next year, I’ll try to include more events — especially those where Indian athletes are performing well, like high jump, long jump, triple jump, 4×400m relays, and even the 100m, where our boys are improving rapidly.”
He believes this will not only boost the growth of athletics in India but also help make the sport more popular across the country.
Neeraj Chopra shared a heartfelt message for track and field fans across India, emphasising that the upcoming event would offer a truly unique experience. He highlighted that ticket prices have been kept affordable to encourage wider participation. Urging fans to come out in support, he expressed hope that their enthusiasm would play a crucial role in ensuring the success of the event and in raising the profile of track and field athletics throughout the country.
He also encouraged parents to bring their children along, as it could inspire them significantly.
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