Bengaluru
The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, India’s first international javelin throw event, has been rescheduled to July 5 in Bengaluru after being postponed due to the India-Pakistan military conflict last month. Initially slated for May 24 in Panchkula, the competition will now be held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium due to better lighting facilities required for live telecast.
Organised by Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra in collaboration with JSW Sports and sanctioned by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), the 12-man competition features a mix of global stars and top Indian talent. Alongside Chopra, the Indian lineup includes Sachin Yadav, Kishore Jena, Rohit Yadav, and Sahil Silwal.
International participants include Grenada’s two-time world champion Anderson Peters, Germany’s 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler, Kenya’s Julius Yego, American Curtis Thompson, Japan’s Genki Dean, Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, and Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva.
JSW Sports official Karan Yadav credited the AFI, Karnataka Olympic Association, and the state government for their support in bringing back the event, which holds a Category A status from World Athletics. Ticket prices range from ₹199 to ₹9,999. Premium experiences include corporate boxes at ₹44,999 and special runway-side seats priced up to ₹9,999. The event promises to be a high-energy celebration of javelin, envisioned as Chopra’s dream project.
