Neeraj Chopra aims to give Indian athletics a boost with Classic meet

Sign up now: Get STs newsletters delivered to your inbox

FILE PHOTO: Athletics - Ostrava Golden Spike Meeting - Mestsky Stadion, Ostrava, Czech Republic - June 24, 2025 Indias Neeraj Chopra in action during the mens javelin REUTERS/David W Cerny/File Photo

BENGALURU - Former Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra believes his eponymous javelin competition could be the catalyst that transforms Indias athletics landscape, as the country prepares to host a world-class field event on Saturday.

The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic will feature an impressive lineup including 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler, 2015 World champion Julius Yego, and Chopra himself alongside domestic talent.

I never dreamt of this event as I had always thought of representing India and winning medals. Apart from the medals, I now feel that I have given something to India and its athletes, Chopra told reporters on Friday ahead of the meet in Bengaluru.

Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and silver at the 2024 Paris Games, believes the event is just the start for many more international competitions to come to India and has grander ambitions beyond Saturdays meet.

We see so many competitions in Germany - A, B, C category, similarly I wish to see at least five to six such world-class competitions in India as well, the 27-year-old said.

Chopra breached the 90-metre mark with a 90.23 throw at the Doha Diamond League in May, while Yego holds the African record at 92.72m and Rohlers personal best stands at 93.90m.

While the javelin