Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra marked a spectacular homecoming by winning the inaugural NC Classic — a javelin competition named after him — with a commanding throw of 86.18 metres in Bengaluru on July 5, 2025. The event, held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, was not just a display of athletic prowess but also a celebration of India’s growing stature in track and field sports.
Despite a shaky start with a foul in his first attempt, Neeraj bounced back strongly. His winning throw came in the third round, soaring past the competition and electrifying the home crowd. He also registered distances of 84.07m and 82.22m in later rounds, but none matched his best mark. The conditions were tricky, with swirling winds challenging all athletes, yet Neeraj’s control and composure stood out.
Kenya’s Julius Yego, the 2015 world champion, finished second with a best throw of 84.51m, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage took bronze with 84.34m. A total of 12 international throwers competed in the elite field, with eight progressing past the initial rounds. The NC Classic was also significant as it was part of the World Athletics Continental Tour (Gold level) — the first such javelin-only event in India’s history.
