As the Neeraj Chopra (NC) Classic nears, Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has expressed deep emotions about competing in front of Indian fans. Reflecting on his journey, Chopra said the dream remains unchanged — to see the national flag fly high. However, he noted that “now, that flag has to fly higher on its own soil, among its own people.”

Earlier, the event was scheduled for May 24. But due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the organizers postponed it to July 5. Now, it will take place at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

In a video shared by the NC Classic’s Instagram page, Chopra described the event as historic. He said the competition is not just about throwing javelins, but about leaving a legacy. According to him, “every javelin not only falls on the ground, but also writes history.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Neeraj Chopra Classic (@neerajchopraclassic)

Event Venue Changed Due to Technical Issues

Initially, Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Haryana was selected as the venue. However, due to floodlight problems, the organizers moved the event to Bengaluru. Despite the change, the event has retained its top-tier status.

Notably, the NC Classic is classified as a World Athletics (WA) Continental Tour Gold-level meet. This makes it the highest-ranked international athletics event ever held in India.

Chopra to Compete Against World’s Best

Meanwhile, organizers confirmed the final list of 12 javelin throwers for the meet. Most of the original athletes remain, with only one change. Poland’s Martin Konecny has replaced Japan’s Genki Dean.

Chopra, who won gold at Tokyo 2020, will headline the event. However, he will face tough competition. World-class athletes like Anderson Peters, Thomas Rohler, and Julius Yego will be part of the line-up. Rohler won silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics, while Yego is a former world champion.

In addition, the list includes Crtis Thompson (USA) – Pan American Games champion, Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil) and Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka).

India Fields a Strong Squad

Along with Chopra, India will field four other top athletes. Kishore Jena, who won a medal at the Asian Games, is part of the squad. So is Sachin Yadav, who recently won silver at the Asian Athletics Championships in South Korea. He finished just behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem.

Additionally, Rohit Yadav and Sahil Silwal will also represent India.

Final Entry List – NC Classic 2025

1. Neeraj Chopra (India)

2. Anderson Peters (Grenada)

3. Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil)

4. Thomas Rohler (Germany)

5. Curtis Thompson (USA)

6. Martin Konecny (Poland)

7. Julius Yego (Kenya)

8. Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka)

9. Sachin Yadav (India)

10. Rohit Yadav (India)

11. Sahil Silwal (India)

12. Kishore Jena (India)