BENGALURU — Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra expressed hope that the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, set to take place on Saturday, will mark a turning point for Indian athletics by drawing international attention and elevating the standard of field events in the country.
The event will feature a stellar lineup of javelin throwers, including Germany’s 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler, Kenya’s 2015 World Champion Julius Yego, and Chopra himself. Several rising Indian athletes such as Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, Sahil Silwal, and Yashvir Singh are also scheduled to compete.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Chopra said he never imagined hosting a competition bearing his name. “My dream was always to represent India and win medals,” he said. “But now I feel proud that I am contributing something more lasting to the country’s sporting ecosystem.”
Chopra, who clinched gold at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and followed up with silver at the 2024 Paris Games, believes the Classic is just the beginning. “In countries like Germany, there are multiple world-class competitions in different tiers. I hope we can create at least five to six major international athletics events in India in the future,” he added.
Chopra recently recorded a 90.23-metre throw at the Doha Diamond League in May, becoming one of the few to cross the elusive 90-metre barrier. Rohler’s personal best stands at 93.90 metres, while Yego holds the African record with a distance of 92.72 metres.
Highlighting the difficulty of consistently achieving such distances, Rohler emphasized the physical and psychological toll. “A 90-metre throw impacts the body significantly. The training is not just about strength and technique, but also managing the strain and expectations,” said the German athlete. “In 2012, 84 metres won the Olympic gold. Now if you throw under 90, people ask if you had a bad day.”
Rohler compared the achievement to elite performance in other sports. “If you look at how few athletes have ever thrown beyond 90 metres, it’s comparable to the handful of star players in a cricket team,” he said.
As India prepares to host this landmark competition, Chopra hopes the event will ignite greater interest in athletics and pave the way for a stronger international presence. “This is not just about one event. It is about building a platform for the next generation to dream bigger,” he said.