Neeraj Chopra Classic: India's First Top-Tier Athletics Meet

It's a landmark day for Indian sport. For the first time ever, the country will host a top-tier athletics meet-and fittingly, it's centred around the man who redefined India's relationship with track and field. On Saturday, 5 July, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru will witness the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, a world-class javelin event headlined and hosted by none other than the Olympic hero himself.

Touch down in Bengaluru, and it's clear something special is brewing. Near the airport, a couple of massive hoardings of Neeraj Chopra welcome visitors. Across the city, graffiti-styled banners-vivid, bold, and designed to grab attention-line major roads and intersections. If you've been stuck in one of Bengaluru's notorious traffic jams this week, chances are you've already spotted these eye-catching displays featuring India's golden boy.

Neeraj, known for his quiet demeanour off the field, has taken an unusually hands-on role in championing his dream project. From engaging with fans to meeting locals in the city during morning walks, he's been all in. If you were on Brigade Road on Friday, you might've seen a man carrying a javelin, casually asking people if they knew about Neeraj and the NC Classic.

So, what's the big deal about the NC Classic?

Quite a lot, actually.

WHAT IS THE NC CLASSIC?

The NC Classic is a one-day Continental Tour meeting, which has received Gold status from World Athletics. It's the first-of-its-kind track and field meeting to be staged in India.

Across the world-apart from the World and Continental Championships and the Diamond League meetings-there are a series of Continental Tour events, which are divided into several categories like A (Gold), B (Silver), C (Bronze), and Challenger events.

And with Gold status, the NC Classic is one of the top one-day events, just below the rung of the Diamond League.

Remember the Ostrava Golden Spike in the Czech Republic, where Neeraj competed earlier this year? That's a Golden-rated World Athletics event that has been a traditional meeting since 1961.

Familiar with the Mondo Classic? It's a Silver-category pole vault event organised by pole vaulting great Mondo Duplantis in Sweden every year.

The NC Classic will offer substantial points to competing athletes as they bid to qualify for the World Athletics Championships, scheduled to be held in September in Tokyo.

It also offers significant prize money.

More importantly, young Indian throwers are set to gain exposure by competing with world-class athletes.

HOW DID THE NC CLASSIC COME ABOUT?

Neeraj, who had felt the romance of competing in front of packed stands abroad, dreamt of bringing such an atmosphere to India right after the Tokyo Olympics. The push towards the NC Classic intensified last year when Neeraj and JSW Sports got into action.

\"The thought had been brewing after the Tokyo Olympics, and it was a year ago that we switched gears and began working to make Neeraj's dream a reality. We were confident of being able to pull it off,\" said Karan Yadav, Chief Commercial Officer, to IndiaToday.in.

\"From procuring the stadium, readying the field of play to match world-class standards, getting sponsors and partners on board, inviting the athletes and coordinating their travel, stay and training preferences, an aggressive marketing and content push, ticketing-the list is extensive. All I'll say is that this has been a mammoth effort to deliver an unforgettable experience.\"

Neeraj has donned the hat of organiser for the first time, juggling training and fulfilling commitments around hosting the NC Classic.

SO, WHO WILL COMPETE IN THE NC CLASSIC?

Yes, Neeraj will compete in the NC Classic. He is part of the 12-man field that will take the stage on Saturday. Neeraj trained with his coach and world record holder, Jan Zelezny, overseeing preparations on Friday.

\"The athlete in me is always up,\" Neeraj said when asked if he had been able to find time to prepare for the event as a competitor while managing his duties as organiser.

Thomas Rhler, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist, and Julius Yego, silver medallist from Rio, are the other two Olympic medallists in the field. Both had no hesitation in turning up for the event when Neeraj invited them.

The USA's Curtis Thompson, who has a season best of 87.76m, will also be in action.

Former world champion Anderson Peters was ruled out of the meet earlier this month due to injury.

The next generation of Indian javelin will also be in action. Four Indian throwers under the age of 25 will have the big stage and a chance to become household names:

Sachin Yadav - 24

Yash Vir Singh - 23

Rohit Yadav - 24

Sahil Silwal - 24

Sachin Yadav, touted as the next big thing in Indian javelin, heads into the meet after setting his personal best of 85.16m. Tall and stocky, Sachin throws a bit like Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem and effortlessly clears big distances. He has been consistently throwing over 80m over the last 12 months.

22-year-old Yash Vir Singh, who finished fifth at the Asian Athletics Championships earlier this year, will also be in action.

It will also be a major stop for some overseas youngsters like Cyprian Mrzygld of Poland, Luiz Maurcio da Silva of Brazil, and fast-bowler-turned-javelin-star from Sri Lanka, Rumesh Tharanga.

NC CLASSIC: THE START LIST

Indians

Neeraj Chopra (IND) - PB and SB: 90.23m

Sachin Yadav (IND) - PB and SB: 85.16m

Rohit Yadav (IND) - PB: 83.41m | SB: 80.47m

Sahil Silwal (IND) - PB: 81.81m | SB: 77.84m

Yash Vir Singh (IND) - PB and SB: 82.57m

Overseas Stars

Thomas Rhler (GER) - PB 93.90m | SB: 80.79m

Julius Yego (KEN) - PB 92.72m | SB: 83.08m

Cyprian Mrzygld (POL) - PB and SB: 85.92m

Luiz Maurcio da Silva (BRA) - PB and SB: 86.62m

Curtis Thompson (USA) - PB and SB: 87.76m

Martin Konecn (CZE) - PB and SB: 80.59m

Rumesh Pathirage (SRI) - PB and SB: 85.45m

NC CLASSIC: WHO'S THE FAVOURITE TO WIN?

Neeraj Chopra.

The NC Classic will be Neeraj's sixth meeting of 2025. He heads into the competition off the back of wins at the Paris Diamond League (88.16m) and Ostrava Golden Spike (85.29m) in June.

Neeraj breached the 90m mark for the first time in his career earlier this year at the Doha Diamond League. He holds the second-best throw of the season (90.23m). Only Julian Weber of Germany has thrown farther-91.06m in Doha this season.

Old guards Yego and Rhler will also be in the fray.

Watch out for Curtis and Rumesh, who can produce a big 85m-plus throw. Sachin will also be licking his lips to make a mark and become a household name.

Yego, speaking to IndiaToday.in on Friday, said the weather in Bengaluru-pleasant as always-might be good for a big throw.

Another 90m loading from Neeraj?

WHERE WILL THE NC CLASSIC BE HELD?

Bengaluru's iconic Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the home of Bengaluru FC, will host the NC Classic. The event was initially scheduled to be held in Neeraj's home state of Haryana but had to be moved out due to logistical concerns.

There is ticketed entry to the event.

The NC Classic will get underway at 7 PM IST on Saturday.

Star Sports and JioCinema will provide TV and live streaming coverage in India. It will also be streamed on the World Athletics website. You can follow updates at: www.indiatoday.in/sports

- Ends