On a landmark evening for Indian athletics, two-time Olympic medallist and World Champion Neeraj Chopra on Saturday delivered a resounding performance to clinch gold at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 in Bengaluru with a stunning throw of 86.18m. Competing on Indian soil for the first time in years, Neeraj thrilled a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium, overcoming a foul in his opening round to produce the night’s best in his third attempt.Watch: The event brought together a world-class field of 12 elite javelin throwers from across the globe, including 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Röhler (Germany), 2015 World Champion Julius Yego (Kenya), South American record-holder Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil), and Pan Am Games winner Curtis Thompson (USA). Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite the fierce competition, Neeraj’s consistency and confidence proved unmatched, following up his winning throw with solid efforts of 84.07m and 82.22m. Julius Yego secured silver with an 84.51m throw, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage impressed with 84.34m for bronze. India’s Sachin Yadav also made a late push with an 82.23m final effort but couldn’t break into the top three. The NC Classic 2025 wasn’t just a competition—it was a celebration. Neeraj, serving as both star and organiser, led a field that included rising Indian talents like Sachin Yadav, Yashvir Singh, Sahil Silwal, and Rohit Yadav. Fans witnessed not just big throws but also the dawning of a new chapter for Indian athletics, as Bengaluru hosted its first World Athletics Gold-level javelin event. As the anthem played and the crowd erupted, Neeraj Chopra not only defended his global supremacy but also lit the path for India’s next generation of champions.
