Neeraj Chopra Clinches Gold at Inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 in Bengaluru.

Sports

Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic javelin champion, triumphed at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025—India’s first international World Athletics Gold-level field event—on July 5, 2025, at Bengaluru’s Sree Kanteerava Stadium, with a winning throw of 86.18 m


      - The competition featured 12 elite throwers, including world-class athletes like Julius Yego (Kenya) and Thomas Röhler (Germany). Following three initial rounds, only the top eight advanced, where Chopra regained momentum after an opening foul to secure the top podium position.

      - Julius Yego took silver with a season-best 84.51 m, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage claimed bronze at 84.34 m . The event drew a strong crowd of over 14,500 spectators, boosting public interest in track and field.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Among Indian competitors, Sachin Yadav impressed with a throw of 82.33 m, finishing just off the podium, despite an ankle injury. Overall, three of five Indian throwers advanced to the final stages, showcasing promising domestic talent.

      (ii) Neeraj Chopra expressed pride in hosting a world-class javelin event at home and emphasized his commitment to nurturing Indian athletes, hoping to expand the Classic into a multi-discipline competition. His winning mark reinforced his elite status, following a season-best 90.23 m earlier in 2025.

(iii) This prestigious meet marks a major step for Indian athletics, demonstrating capacity to host high-calibre competitions and reigniting national stadium attendance—a crucial factor for long-term sports development.

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