Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 AS IT HAPPENED: India's Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra claimed victory at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, delivering a best throw of 86.18 meters, which came during his third attempt.
The home favourite edged past a competitive field to take the top spot, with Kenya's Julius Yego finishing as runner-up and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage securing third place.

Neeraj had a shaky start, opening his campaign with a foul. However, he quickly regained rhythm in his second attempt, clearing the 80-meter mark and setting the tone for the rest of the event. His standout throw in the third round propelled him to the top of the leaderboard, overtaking Pathirage, who had briefly taken the lead with an effort of 84.34 meters.
Although Neeraj registered another foul in his fourth attempt, he maintained his dominance with a solid 84.07m throw in the fifth round. He closed the competition with a final attempt of 82.22m, comfortably holding on to the lead and capping off a memorable performance in front of a home crowd.
Neeraj Chopra emerged victorious at the first-ever edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, securing the top spot with a standout throw of 86.18 meters, achieved during his third attempt. He concluded the competition with a final throw measuring 82.22 meters.
Kenya's Julius Yego delivered a strong performance to claim second place, while Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage completed the podium, finishing third in a closely contested event.
Neeraj Chopra crosses the 80m mark once again with a solid 84.07m throw in his fifth attempt. With only one round remaining, he remains the frontrunner to clinch the title at the Neeraj Chopra Classic.
Neeraj Chopra recorded a foul on his fourth attempt, but he continues to hold the top spot as none of the other contenders managed to deliver strong throws in the fourth round.
Kenya's Julius Yego produced an impressive season-best throw of 84.51m, propelling him into second place in the standings.
Neeraj Chopra delivered a massive throw of 86.18m on his third attempt, reclaiming the top spot from Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage. Letting out a loud roar, Neeraj celebrated the moment, fully aware that he had regained control of the competition and shifted the pressure onto his rivals.
Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage surged into the lead with a powerful throw of 84.34m, pushing India's Neeraj Chopra down to second place. Sachin Yadav now holds the third position in the standings.
India's Javelin star has taken the lead with a throw of 82.99, getting past Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage.
Till now, no has crossed the 80-metre mark. Neeraj Chopra's first attempt ends in a foul.
Stay tuned to out live coverage as we we bring you the live updates all the way from Bengaluru!
The competition features 12 athletes, each of whom will have six attempts to record their best throw. After the initial three rounds, the bottom four performers will be eliminated from the contest.
From the fourth round onward, the remaining eight competitors will throw in reverse order based on their current rankings. The throwing order will be reshuffled again after the fourth and fifth rounds to reflect updated standings.
Final placements will be determined by each athlete's single best throw from any of the six rounds.
Neeraj Chopra expressed his delight at hosting an international athletics event on home soil, sharing his gratitude with those who helped bring the vision to life.
In a conversation with the host broadcaster, Neeraj said, "This feels like a dream come true. I've long hoped to see an international competition take place in India, and now it's finally happening. It's the first time something like this is being organised here, and many people have played a crucial role in making it possible. I'm deeply thankful to everyone involved. It's a great feeling."
Ahead of the competition, Neeraj Chopra took a moment to honour his coach, Jan Zelezny, in a special felicitation ceremony. As the live broadcast got underway, commentator Richard Newman hailed the Indian athlete as "a genuine global superstar." The highly anticipated event is set to begin shortly.
Neeraj Chopra has begun his preparations for the much-anticipated event, where he plays a dual role - both as a competitor and the face behind the tournament. Balancing responsibilities as both participant and organiser, the Olympic champion is taking on a unique challenge. All eyes will now be on whether he can deliver a winning performance while wearing both hats.
While Neeraj Chopra enters the NC Classic as the frontrunner, he faces stiff competition. Brazil's Da Silva, who secured third place at the Paris Diamond League with an impressive 86.62m throw, remains a serious contender. Adding to the challenge is Germany's Thomas Röhler, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist and one of the sport's legends, boasting a personal best of 93.90m. To secure victory, Neeraj will need to deliver his absolute best.
Here is the full throwing order:
1 Sahil Silwal (India)
2 Rohit Yadav (India)
3 Martin Konecny (Czechia)
4 Thomas Rohler (Germany)
5 Yashvir Singh (India)
6 Julius Yego (Kenya)
7 Sachin Yadav (India)
8 Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka)
9 Cyprian Mrzyglod (Poland)
10 Luiz Mauricio Da Silva (Brazil)
11 Curtis Thompson (USA)
12 Neeraj Chopra (India)
Neeraj Chopra, India's premier javelin thrower, is geared up to headline the inaugural NC Classic-an elite World Athletics ‘A' category meet. Coming off impressive victories at the Paris Diamond League, where he recorded an 88.16m throw, and the Ostrava Golden Spike with a mark of 85.29m, Chopra enters the competition in top form. The event, named in his honour, carries added importance-not only as a showcase of his athletic prowess but also as a means to engage Indian audiences and boost the visibility of athletics nationwide.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, India's premier Javelin event, organised by Javelin superstar Neeraj Chopra!
Neeraj has been in exceptional form, having recently claimed victories at the Paris Diamond League with a stellar throw of 88.16 meters and the Ostrava Golden Spike with a best of 85.29 meters. As the title event carries his name, the NC Classic holds special significance-not just as a competition, but as a platform to inspire Indian fans and elevate the profile of track and field sports across the country.
While the event will run for just over an hour, it promises to deliver high-octane action, with 12 elite javelin throwers vying for top honours. Though two-time world champion Anderson Peters has withdrawn due to an ankle injury, the field remains strong with the inclusion of 2016 Rio Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, adding further star power.
For Neeraj, returning to compete on Indian soil for the first time in over a year adds to the excitement. Performing in front of a passionate home crowd brings added motivation, and his focus will be firmly on breaching the 90-meter barrier-a milestone he achieved earlier this year in Doha, where he finished second behind Germany's Julian Weber.
The NC Classic also presents a valuable platform for emerging Indian talents like Sachin Yadav, Sahil Silwal, Rohit Yadav, and Yashvir Singh to gain crucial international experience. Competing alongside some of the top names in global javelin throwing offers these youngsters a rare chance to test their skills at the highest level and learn from seasoned athletes.
The NC Classic isn't just another tournament for the reigning Olympic champion-it's a celebration of Indian athletics and a moment to inspire a new generation of fans by bringing world-class javelin action to their doorstep.