Latest news with #ContinentalTourGold
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Mark English smashes his Irish 800m record in Budapest
In a season of breakthroughs, Mark English took another big step forward on Tuesday evening, the 32-year-old smashing his Irish record when finishing second over 800m in 1:43.37 at the Gyulai István Memorial, a Continental Tour Gold meeting, in Budapest. That brought him home behind Kenya's Laban Kipkorir Chepkwony (1:42.96), with France's Yanis Meziane third in 1:43.71. It's the third time English has broken his national 800m record this season, having clocked 1:44.34 in Poland in May and then 1:43.92 in Hengelo, the Netherlands, in June. English had been in fine form since then, powering to his 10th national outdoor title over 800m earlier this month ahead of Cian McPhillips. 'Hopefully I'll have another race or two before the World Championships and I can't wait for that because I'm in great shape at the minute,' he said after that race. 'I'd like to be able to show it with a time.' English bided his time midway through the final lap and unleashed his typically strong finish to take the runner-up spot, his time moving him joint-16th on the world list for 2025 and carving over half a second off his Irish record, marking the third time this season that he has run under 1:44. English had a number of world-class operators behind him, with Spain's Mariano Garcia – a former world indoor and European champion – fourth in 1:43.84, while reigning European Indoor champion Sam Chapple was fifth in 1:43.96 and 2023 world bronze medallist Ben Pattison came home seventh in 1:44.14. English, who won his fifth European medal by taking bronze at the European Indoors in the Netherlands in March, has never made a global final but as the countdown continues to next month's World Championships in Tokyo, he looks to have a decent chance of doing so this year. He has yet to announce if this will be his last season. 'I don't really like to put a clock on my career,' he said in June. 'If you think you're retiring at a certain point, that might change how you come into a race; it might change your motivation.' He said part of his motivation to continue this year was to run under 1:44 for the first time. 'I wanted to get the best out of myself in terms of what I knew I was capable of doing,' he said. 'I knew I had a 1:43 in me and I felt it would be very hard for me to hang up my spikes if I didn't achieve what I knew I was capable of doing.'
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Neeraj Chopra continues to project javelin into mainstream consciousness with Bengaluru Classic
To perform as a top-level athlete is hard enough. To double up as the tournament organiser is a whole new challenge. All things considered, Neeraj Chopra passed this stern test. The Neeraj Chopra Classic, where the 27-year-old acted as the host alongside JSW, went off without a hitch. Busy turnstiles The Sree Kanteerava Stadium wore a festive look with 14,593 enthusiastic spectators — an impressive number normally reserved for high-profile Bengaluru FC football outings. Neeraj the athlete came into his own when the action commenced. After a foul throw on the first attempt, he struck gold on the third throw with a 86.18m heave. With the fan favourite claiming the title, the event followed the perfect script. There was, however, some disappointment that the distances recorded were well short of elite marks. The heavy winds no doubt made this a real challenge — a factor acknowledged by Neeraj and his rivals. The tournament could have done with a little more publicity and buzz, with many Bengalureans unaware that a world-class javelin field had assembled in their city. While this is perhaps a point to note when planning for the next edition of the NC Classic, a relieved Neeraj was happy that the event was completed successfully. ALSO READ | Smaller steps, stronger block, straighter throws: The S's Neeraj Chopra is working on for success 'I didn't expect such a good crowd in the first edition. We had so much support. I thank World Athletics for giving us a Continental Tour Gold event. It's a big thing for our country. I hope we bring more competitions like this in the future,' Neeraj said. 'The State government, Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, JSW, sponsors — everyone supported me. We all worked together like a team. I'm thrilled.' The big picture — to inspire young children to take up the sport of javelin — was fulfilled. The stands were filled with eager teenagers, accompanied by young adults who also harboured grand dreams of emulating the two-time Olympic medallist. When Neeraj entered the Sree Kanteerava Stadium to fireworks, the noise was deafening. The massive outpouring of love made him emotional. 'I felt so good that athletics is getting so much support. This is exactly what we wanted — people should watch track and field,' he said. 'Athletes work so hard, and it's all behind the curtains. Track and field is one of the hardest sports. All we want is for people to come and watch us perform. And when parents feel there is something to achieve in athletics, only then will they encourage their kids in track and field.' Neeraj gave an insight into his role as an organiser-cum-athlete. 'I was always thinking about the athletes and their friends. One day, at our hotel, I had to eat spicy food. I said, 'This spicy food is okay for me, but it will be too much for them [foreign competitors]'. So I changed the food menu at the hotel,' Neeraj laughed and said. Juggling duties Neeraj admitted that juggling host and athlete duties took a toll on his training and preparation. 'Being a pure athlete is difficult when you are an organiser. Being an athlete, you have to eat well three times a day, rest well, train. These things are tough to manage when you are also organising the event. But I did have help from the AFI and JSW team, so I did not have too much work to do. They managed mostly on their own,' Neeraj said. 'It was a new experience. When I am no longer an athlete, then maybe I can become a good tournament organiser.' ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra Classic — a milestone moment in Indian athletics The stress carried over to the field as well. 'When we were entering the arena, there was a delay. If I was just an athlete, then a delay would not have bothered me. But in this case, I was worried. In between throws, I also checked in with the referees to ask if everything was going well. 'The mini car, which carried the javelin sticks to the athletes, was moving slowly. The competitors wanted it to be faster, so they could throw quickly. So I told them to walk up and pick up the sticks with their hands instead. Yes, I was noting all these small things,' Neeraj said. The decision to stage the tournament in Bengaluru came through unusual circumstances. The NC Classic was scheduled to be held in Panchkula on May 24, but floodlight issues at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium forced a shift to Bengaluru. The India-Pakistan cross-border tensions then prompted a postponement. All the uncertainty notwithstanding, Neeraj was satisfied that the showpiece was conducted in Bengaluru, a city he is quite familiar with. 'I used to come to Bengaluru to watch Bengaluru FC games. I have also trained in Bengaluru in the past. The people of Bengaluru enjoyed the night. I was here to showcase my passion for javelin throw. I was worried whether people would come to the stadium, but there was a lot of support,' he said. Neeraj's winning throw was nowhere near his personal best of 90.23m, but on a night affected by strong winds, it was enough to get the job done. Apart from the stiff breeze, Neeraj had to fight a bout of nerves as well. 'Mentally, it was very tough for me, because so many people came to support me. I was a little scared, especially since the tournament was in my name. I talked to my coach [world record holder Jan Zelezny], who told me to stay relaxed. My friend [and rival] Julius Yego also told me to be calm and throw far,' Neeraj said. ALSO READ | Stars give a thumbs up to Neeraj Chopra Classic 'There was also a lot of wind — both headwind and crosswind. It was a little strange. I had technical problems and messed up in the beginning. On my fifth throw, when I recorded 84.07m, I actually thought it would reach 87 to 88m. But the wind was blowing from the front, which made things difficult.' Platforming Indians The occasion allowed four other Indians — Sachin Yadav, Yash Vir Singh, Sahil Silwal and Rohit Yadav — to take on the world's best. Sachin Yadav (82.33m) did the best among the lot — a commendable performance given that he was carrying an ankle injury. 'Our big target was to lift Indian athletes and get them on par with international stars. We are already doing well in javelin. We have 80m-plus throwers. They got the chance to learn from Olympic and world champions,' Neeraj said. As and when he gets the chance to soak it all in, Neeraj will be a satisfied man. Not too long ago, the thought of conducting a standalone javelin event would have been brushed off as a joke. The NC Classic has proved that Indian track and field has the potential to enter the mainstream.
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Business Standard
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Business Standard
What is NC Classic javelin throw event, and what is its significance?
India will witness a defining moment in its athletics journey on Saturday, 5 July 2025, as Bengaluru hosts the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) — the country's first-ever international competition dedicated exclusively to the javelin throw. This one-day event is named after India's Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra, whose global achievements have transformed public perception of field events in India. The NC Classic is a forward-looking initiative aimed at developing the sport further by providing a high-performance platform for elite and emerging talent alike. What makes the NC Classic special? Unlike multi-event track and field meets, the NC Classic is focused solely on the javelin throw — a discipline long overshadowed in India by cricket and track events. This event is a first-of-its-kind attempt to elevate a single field event to a standalone spectacle. The NC Classic promises fans an up-close experience of world-class javelin action while offering young Indian athletes the rare chance to compete alongside and learn from global stars. The intent is not only to host a world-class competition but also to inspire future generations by showing them what's possible when talent meets opportunity. What is the significance of the Neeraj Chopra Classic event? The Neeraj Chopra Classic has been granted 'A' category status by World Athletics, placing it among the highest-tier competitions globally, such as the Continental Tour Gold events. This makes the NC Classic a crucial stop on the global athletics calendar. The designation allows participating athletes to earn significant world ranking points, which are vital for qualification to premier international tournaments. For India, this recognition puts the country on the map as a serious venue for field events, capable of drawing top international talent and setting new organisational benchmarks. Crucial qualifier for World Athletics Championships 2025 The 2025 NC Classic serves as an official qualifying meet for the World Athletics Championships, which will be held in Tokyo from 13 to 21 September. For several athletes, the meet in Bengaluru will represent one of the final opportunities to secure a place in the biggest event of the season. While Neeraj Chopra has already secured qualification, most of the international and domestic participants will be looking to meet the entry standards and boost their rankings. Neeraj Chopra Classic event: Participants list Neeraj Chopra Classic event: Live streaming and telecast details When will the Neeraj Chopra Classic event take place? The Neeraj Chopra Classic event will take place on Saturday, 5 July. What is the venue for the Neeraj Chopra Classic event on 5 July? The Neeraj Chopra Classic event is scheduled to take place at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka. What time will the Neeraj Chopra Classic event begin? The Neeraj Chopra Classic event will begin at 7 p.m. IST on 5 July. Where to watch the live telecast of the Neeraj Chopra Classic event? Star Sports Network will telecast the Neeraj Chopra Classic event live in India. JioHotstar, through its app and website, will live stream the Neeraj Chopra Classic event in India.
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
"Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt?": Gout Gout beats Olympic favorite in Europe and breaks his own 200m record
"Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt?": Gout Gout beats Olympic favorite in Europe and breaks his own 200m record (Image via Getty) A 17-year-old sprinter from Australia is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting names in track and field. At just 17 years of age, he already runs times that many Olympic greats took years to run. On June 18, 2025, during his first senior race outside Australia, Gout Gout made headlines across the world. What he did in the Czech Republic has fans and experts now calling him the 'next Usain Bolt .' But what exactly happened that day? And how far is he from making history? Gout Gout runs 20.02 seconds in Czech Republic and beats Olympic favourite Reynier Mena On Tuesday, June 18, 2025, at the Golden Spike athletics meet in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Gout Gout ran the 200m in a blistering 20.02 seconds! This was Gout Gout's first senior race in Europe and not only did he win, he defeated Reynier Mena of Cuba, the man expected to win the race! This race was a part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series. Gout Gout had already broken the 200m Australian record back in December 2024 which had stood for 56 years. He had actually gone and broken his own national record again, recording 20.02 seconds for the 200m, equaling, to the hundredth of a second, his own personal best, which he was allowed to do in this instance. This race was particularly newsworthy not just because of the time; but he ran faster than Usain Bolt's first run at the same Golden Spike meet of Ostrava (19 years earlier)! Gout Gout says he feels no pressure and dreams of being himself, not just Usain Bolt After the race, Gout Gout spoke confidently. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live the Luxe Life – 3 BHK at ₹3.85 Cr* | Sunteck City Sunteck City Learn More Undo 'I feel good. I don't feel any pressure,' he told reporters . 'As soon as I get on the track, it's just me and running — my favourite thing.' Gout Gout added that he's happy to be compared to Usain Bolt but wants to show his own personality. 'Who doesn't want to be Usain Bolt? But I also want to be me,' he said. Gout Gout's journey has caught the attention of big names, including Olympic champion Noah Lyles, who invited him to train. Even Usain Bolt noticed and posted online, 'He looks like young me.' Gout Gout still has two months before turning 18. At 17 years and 10 months, Usain Bolt shattered the 20-second threshold. The planet is now waiting to see whether gout can do it too. Also Read: Why Gout Gout's Under 10 Serving 100m Run Was Deemed Illegal Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Gout Gout wins 200m at Golden Spike event in dream European debut
Gout Gout has celebrated his European debut in style, winning the 200m at the Golden Spike meet in Ostrava Gout broke his Australian 200m record again when he clocked 20.02 seconds to win overnight in the in the eastern Czech city. Gout Gout, who had run 200m in a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds in April, stormed to a convincing win in a new Australian record in his first race in Europe. Dream European debut ✨ Watch 🇦🇰’s Gout Gout power to 20.02 in the men’s 200m at @ZlataTretra 😎 First senior race abroad ✅ First race ever in Europe ✅ First senior win abroad ✅ Breaks area record ✅ #ContinentalTourGold — World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) June 24, 2025 'I don't feel any pressure. Because as soon as I step out on that track, it's just me by myself and what I've got to do — my favourite thing, and that's to run,' Gout said. 'So, I just go out there and run and nothing stops me from doing that.'
