The first-ever Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin event, set for May 24, has been moved from Panchkula to Bengaluru. The change happened because the original venue didn’t have enough lighting for live TV coverage.
Neeraj Chopra Classic Moves to Bengaluru
Despite the shift, the event will feature some big names. Two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada and 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler have confirmed they will take part. Neeraj Chopra also said he has invited Pakistan’s Olympic star Arshad Nadeem, but he hasn’t confirmed if he will attend yet.
Speaking to reporters during a virtual media interaction on Monday, Neeraj Chopra said, “I have sent invitation to Arshad and he said he will get back to me after discussing with his coach. As of now he is yet to confirm participation.”
World Athletics Grants Event Category A Status
World Athletics has given the competition a Category A status and has updated the event’s venue on its official calendar accordingly.
“I wanted the event in Panchkula but there are certain issues related to lighting (floodlight) at the stadium there. World Athletics requirement is 600 lux (a measure of the intensity of light) for international broadcast, which is not there (in Panchkula) and it will take time (to install it),” he said.
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“So for this year we have decided to shift the event to Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. I have spoken to Karnataka chief minister. We have the JSW team there to take care of every aspect in organising the event successfully. I feel the evening weather in Bengaluru would be perfect for the event, for the athletes and the fans,” Chopra said.
“Our endeavour is to give best experience to the fans and best hospitality to foreign participants,” Neeraj said.
The event will be jointly organized by Neeraj Chopra and JSW Sports, in partnership with the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and World Athletics. It will feature top javelin throwers from both India and around the world.
“I’m very much involved in the organisation of the event. It’s a long-standing dream for me to organise this kind of event in India. It’s dream true for me,” said the athlete from Haryana’s Khandra village who became Indian athletic’s first gold medal winner in the Olympics in Tokyo before adding a silver in Paris.
“I am very excited. I have won Olympic and other medals for the country. Now with this event, I am giving back something to Indian athletics, to Indian athletes and the fans.”
Ticket Information and Pricing Details for NC Classic
Along with Peters, who also won a bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and Rohler, a few other top athletes have confirmed their participation. Kenyan javelin thrower Julius Yego, who won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics and gold at the 2015 World Championships, will take part. American Curtis Thompson, who currently leads the season with a throw of 87.76m, is also confirmed for the event.
“A few more European athletes will be added. A Brazilian, who qualified for the final in (Paris Olympics) has also confirmed participation,” Chopra said, without revealing the name. However, it is likely to be Luiz da Silva, who finished 11th in Paris with a best throw of 80.67m.
“I am also competing. Three to four Indians will be competing, I spoke to Rohit (Yadav) yesterday. It will be a very good opportunity for Indians to get ranking points for World Championships in Tokyo (in September),” Neeraj Chopra said. He also shared that his current coach, Jan Zelezny, the legendary world record holder, was the one who suggested naming the event after the Indian superstar.
“I was talking to Zelezny about this event and he said that it would be good if it is named after me. I was also inspired by some events organised by famous athletes and themselves participating like Mondo Classic and Kip Keino Classic,” he said.
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The Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi and the Mondo Classic by Armand Duplantis are both part of the World Athletics Continental Tour.
Neeraj Chopra said the NC Classic will be held every year, and he hopes to include more events besides javelin in the future.
“I wanted to state that this event will be an annual affair. As of now, it will be just a men’s javelin event. But in future, I am hoping other events will also be added.”
“We (India) are good at long jump (men and women), 3000m steeplechase, and we can add these event in future. The men’s 100m is doing well, the timing is getting better and better.”
“It was a surprise for me that this event got World Athletics A category. We will try to bring a Diamond League Meeting in India. We have the stadium to host DL Meetings, and it will be good for World Athletics also to spread athletics. World Athletics knows that athletics is growing in India.”
Fans will need to purchase tickets to attend the NC Classic javelin event.
“There will be tickets for the event, different prices for different seats and blocks. But we will try that the ticket price is not too much. The fans should feel the ticket price is worth the enjoyment of watching the event,” said Chopra.
“I have never gone into such details, whether floodlights are adequate for live telecasting, whether the washrooms and changing rooms are comfortable for international javelin throwers, etc. I’ve never considered such things while playing,” said Chopra on his involvement in organising the event.
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