Gold for all-rounder Neeraj Chopra as Bengaluru enjoys and elevates javelin party

"Fifteen thousand people for only javelin is unique. To be honest, I have never seen something like this," Rio Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler told IndiaToday.in, still soaking in the atmosphere at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

"Amazing," added Kenya's Julius Yego. "Before I even threw my best, I was joining the fun with the crowd. I came up with a season best throw. I am going home happy."

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Talk about putting a foot wrong. The only misstep Neeraj Chopra made on Saturday came moments after his opening throw, when he briefly lost his footing. Beyond that solitary slip, he was flawless.

The occasion was no ordinary meet. This was the Neeraj Chopra Classic, India's first grand international javelin gathering, and its namesake was at once the star attraction and the orchestrator-in-chief, juggling roles with the ease and urgency of a Gen Z multitasker.

A dream long in the making had finally unfurled. It was back in 2016, after scripting Olympic history in Tokyo, that Neeraj first envisioned hosting a world-class event on Indian soil. With every overseas competition since - from the quiet training camps in Europe to the floodlit stadia of global championships - he was perfecting his craft. Quietly, he was also taking notes, learning how the best events are staged, not just thrown.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic was a homecoming of ambition and Bengaluru made it a night to remember. A carnival that will be spoken of for years across the world of javelin.

The Sree Kanteerava Stadium was packed to the rafters. 14,593 walked through the gates to make the night historic - a staggering turnout for a track-and-field event in India. The passionate Bengaluru crowd, from wide-eyed schoolkids to the seasoned and grey, didn't just come to cheer Neeraj.

Of course, the loudest roars were reserved for him. But this audience made it an experience of a lifetime for every single athlete. When Jan Zelezny, the legendary world record-holder and Neeraj's coach, walked out during warm-ups, he was greeted with a thunderous reception.

Yego soaked up the adulation en route to silver. Sri Lanka's Rumesh Tharanga, just 22, danced and smiled his way into a podium finish and into the crowd's hearts.

With a winning throw of 86.18 metres, Neeraj topped a field brimming with Olympic medallists, India's brightest talents, and international stars.

To see his name on the banner, and a long-held dream brought to life, not just in triumph on the field but in the energy of the stands, must have been a double delight. For a debut edition to soar so high, so soon, was both surreal and stirring.

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"To see athletics getting this much support is what we wanted. It felt so good," said Neeraj. "This is a reward for the athletes' hard work." Courtesy: JSW Sports Media

The most heartening sight? Young athletes in the stands, watching intently, dreaming quietly.

Among them were Raanjan Vijayan, an 80m hurdler, and Sanath Shetigar, a middle-distance runner. Both under-16 athletes from Karnataka, the two sat in the stands, wide-eyed and hopeful, imagining a future where the cheers of thousands would ring out for them, too, as they carried India's colours on the global stage.

They were not alone. All across the stands, young aspirants watched the action unfold, taking notes, solidifying ambitions, giving flight to dreams. The Neeraj Chopra Classic, in its very first edition, had already become more than a meet. It had become a movement.

Let this be another reminder: it's no longer fair to lament that India is only a cricket-crazy country. When sport is delivered with heart, excellence, and authenticity, Indian fans show up - not just to watch, but to celebrate, and elevate.

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And celebrate they did. Because the man of the moment was, unmistakably, India's golden boy.

THE PRESSURE OF HOSTING

"There was pressure, a different kind of pressure," Neeraj told IndiaToday.in after the carnival-like evening.

"I wasn't just thinking like an athlete - I was worrying about how things were being organised. Even the smallest delay had me fretting."

"But eventually, everything went well. The crowd was fantastic. The athletes were enjoying the atmosphere. And I won too. It felt so good," he added.

Noticed that? His victory came as a footnote - a throwaway line amid a reflection on logistics, hospitality, and the athlete experience. That's the kind of host Neeraj wanted to be.

Every action over the past week told the same story. Fresh off a demanding June, where he competed in Paris and Ostrava, Neeraj arrived early in Bengaluru. He met with stakeholders from Karnataka government, spent time with sponsors, fulfilled commercial obligations and somehow carved out time to train. The schedule didn't revolve around him. He revolved around the mission.

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ORGANISER BEFORE COMPETITOR

Neeraj Chopra won gold in Neeraj Chopra Classic! (PTI Photo)

On Saturday, half an hour before warm-ups officially began, Neeraj the organiser was already out on the field. He walked the grounds, speaking with volunteers, scanning every inch of the setup. A short jog, part warm-up and part inspection, gave him a feel for the field. It was clear: he had a mental checklist to tick off before he allowed himself to become the athlete.

Even then, that switch never fully flipped. While Neeraj the athlete took centre stage, the organiser in him remained quietly alert. His eyes weren't just on the scoreboard - they were on the event as a whole, and on the 11 other athletes he'd invited to share it with him.

At one point, he noticed a glitch in the mini-car ferrying the javelins back to the runway after each throw.

"Only small things concerned me," he said. "For instance, the car bringing the javelins back was a little slow. As athletes, we want them returned quickly to stay in rhythm. I even thought - maybe we should just run and get them ourselves!"

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That's a champion's mindset too, tuned to precision, attentive to the smallest details, and unwilling to let anything disrupt the pursuit of excellence.

But Neeraj didn't stop there.

At the post-event press conference, he switched roles once more - this time, playing reporter. Grabbing the mic, he turned to silver medallist Julius Yego with a question that reflected both humility and genuine curiosity.

"Was everything okay for you?" he asked. "You're one of the most senior athletes, you've travelled the world. Could you share a piece of advice?"

Yego grinned. "What should I say? Everything was nice."

Neeraj, the all-rounder - athlete, host, organiser, and now interviewer - was a revelation. So was the Neeraj Chopra Classic.

- Ends

Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Jul 6, 2025

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