Neeraj Chopra on Hosting ‘NC Classic 2025': 'Very Excited to Compete at Home with the World's Best'

Bengaluru, July 4: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra is all set to headline a landmark moment in Indian athletics with the inaugural 'Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025', scheduled to take place on Saturday (July 5) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

The event marks India's first-ever international javelin competition, sanctioned as a Gold-level meet by World Athletics and officially supported by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI).

Very Excited to Compete at Home with the World s Best

Bringing together an elite field of global javelin throwers, the 'Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025' aims to elevate the profile of the sport in India and inspire a new generation of athletes.

"Excited and Proud to Host in India," says Neeraj

Speaking at the pre-event press conference on Friday (July 4), Neeraj Chopra - Olympic and World Champion - shared his excitement about competing in front of a home crowd while also managing the responsibilities of organising the meet.

"It feels great that such an event is happening in India and that such good athletes have come here to compete together. I am very excited for this event," said Chopra.

"Organising and playing together is tough. I've always focused on playing, but now I have to take care of everything. As an organiser, I have to think about all these small things. I like it. A big thank you to the Karnataka Government and everyone supporting us-especially the JSW team, who have worked very hard with us."

Röhler, Yego, and others Praise the Initiative

Also present at the press conference were Germany's Thomas Röhler, Kenya's Julius Yego, and India's rising talent Sachin Yadav, all of whom shared their admiration for Neeraj's initiative.

Röhler, the 2016 Olympic champion, said: "It is a pleasure and a joy to come to a country that is really on the rising edge of javelin. This is a special moment for all of us. I was quick to say yes because it's a special year for me, returning from injuries. I wanted to take this opportunity."

India's Sachin Yadav, one of the promising youngsters in the sport, was elated at being invited: "I'm very excited. The world's best players are here, and I'll be competing with them-right here in India. When I got the message, I couldn't believe it was from Neeraj. I felt very proud."

Yego, the Kenyan champion and former World Champion, added a global perspective: "This may look like a small event to some, but it is actually very big. We used to think of javelin as a European event-no more. With Chopra's initiative, the sport is growing across regions. I had no doubt-I had to be here."

A Global Line-Up and a Celebration of Sport

Athletes from Germany, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Kenya, the USA, Czech Republic, Poland, and India will compete in what is being billed as one of the strongest javelin fields ever assembled on Indian soil. Beyond the sporting action, fans can also expect a spectacular light show and live music performances, creating an electrifying environment inside the stadium.

Key Event Details:

📅 Date: July 5, 2025
🕖 Time: 7 PM IST onwards
📍 Venue: Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
📺 Watch Live On: *Star Sports 1 Hindi & Star Sports 2*
📱 Streaming: *JioHotstar*

A New Era for Indian Athletics

The 'Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025' is more than just a competition-it's a vision brought to life by one of India's most celebrated athletes. By hosting the event in India, Neeraj is not only providing a global platform for Indian javelin talent but also redefining the nation's role in world athletics.

With high stakes, elite performances, and a festive atmosphere, this historic meet promises to be a landmark moment in Indian sporting history.