Bengaluru/New Delhi: Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra continues his relentless march towards global sporting stardom. On Saturday, he scooped the gold medal at the inaugural NC Classic 2025, held at the historic Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, an event that marked a watershed moment for Indian athletics.
With a throw of 86.18m on his third attempt, Neeraj once again reminded the world of his unmatched composure and elite pedigree, proving why he remains India’s most bankable and inspiring track-and-field star.
Competing in a field stacked with world-class talent, including Olympic silver medallist Julius Yego, Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, and the formidable American thrower Curtis Thompson, among others Neeraj Chopra’s calm, confident, and technically flawless performance spoke volumes about his class, consistency, and his steadfast commitment to nurturing the sport of javelin in India.
The NC Classic itself India’s first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold event provided the perfect stage for Neeraj Chopra to shine at home, as he led by example and inspired a new generation of athletes with his excellence and humility.
Before the start of the event, the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Neeraj Chopra told the Indian Express: “Every single day, I am learning something new about organising a sporting event. I must say I have a newfound respect for people who put an event together. I am trying to give as much time as possible to all the different aspects of the NC Classic because this is my competition and not one that simply has my name attached with it. In between all this, I’ve had to give time to my training too. I am as excited about competing as I am about organising the NC Classic.”
Steady excellence amid expectations
What stood out at the NC Classic was not just the distance of the throw impressive as it was but the composure with which Neeraj Chopra handled the occasion. Competing on home soil, under the weight of public expectations and media glare, he delivered a technically sound and relaxed series.
In doing so, he once again proved that his Olympic gold in Tokyo and his consistent Diamond League podium finishes were not flashes of brilliance but a reflection of sustained excellence.
At a time when Indian athletics is striving to deepen its talent pool and attract attention to track and field, Neeraj Chopra remains the face of this quiet revolution not only winning medals but normalising world-class performances by an Indian athlete on the global stage.
A star with humility
In his post-event comments, Neeraj Chopra displayed characteristic humility. Speaking about his ongoing learning process, he playfully remarked how he’d like to pick up some bowling tips from Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The remark, made with a smile, shows how Neeraj Chopra balances elite-level competition with a personable charm that has made him a national icon.
TOP THREE
1. Neeraj Chopra – 86.18m
2. Julius Yego – 84.51m
3. Rumesh Pathirage – 84.34m
INDIAN THROWERS AT NC CLASSIC
1. Sahil Silwal
2. Rohit Yadav
3. Yashvir Singh
4. Sachin Yadav
5. Neeraj Chopra
His ability to stay grounded despite his global stature is perhaps what endears him most to fans and teammates alike. It also underscores a quiet confidence in his own abilities, a hallmark of true champions.
Significance of NC Classic
The NC Classic, now being positioned as India’s premier javelin meet, is more than just another stop on Neeraj Chopra’s calendar. His participation lends legitimacy and visibility to a homegrown competition that aims to nurture young talent. By competing here rather than solely focusing on European circuits, Neeraj Chopra is effectively investing in the domestic athletics ecosystem, sending a clear message that excellence can emerge from India’s own competitive platforms.
“This is a dream I have had for a long time. I always wanted to have an international competition in India. Everyone has contributed so much, the AFI, World Athletics and the government. It does not matter that the event is named after me. I am considering it as just another competition. I am 100 per cent ready to compete against all these athletes,” he said, reported sportsstar.
Donning the role of an organiser for his own event, Neeraj admitted there was ‘pressure’. “So many people came to support me and the competition is named after me. There was pressure on me to perform well. Julius and Rumesh pushed hard today. I felt that there would be a bigger throw today but the wind was also swirling about,” he said, reported Indian Express. “And there was a headwind so it was tough to throw. I was not happy with my run-up. But I felt good to have the trophy and the medal in my first competition. My biggest target was to make the competition a success and that happened.”
He also said it was a different experience to be involved in the organisation of an event. “I was training also but I also had to spend time travelling and meeting people. But at the back of my mind, I knew that I had to perform also. This competition has made me stronger in the sense that under a new kind of pressure, I could perform.”
His performance also provides a benchmark for emerging athletes, many of whom got to compete alongside him and witness first-hand what it takes to excel at the highest level.
Looking ahead
Each competitive outing for Neeraj Chopra is a step in his meticulously planned preparation. While his focus remains on peaking at the right time, results like this build momentum and confidence, not just for him but for the entire contingent of Indian track and field athletes looking to make their mark.
If his trajectory continues as planned, Neeraj Chopra could well script another chapter in India’s Olympic history. But beyond medals and records, his biggest contribution may just be in redefining what Indian athletics can dare to dream of.
