Latest news with #MondoClassic
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Pole vault king Duplantis to promote World Athletics Ultimate Championship
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Athletics - Mondo Classic - IFU Arena, Uppsala, Sweden - March 13, 2025 Sweden's Armand Duplantis in action during the pole vault gala Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency via REUTERS/File Photo Pole vault sensation Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis said he was excited to be part of the growth of athletics after the two-time Olympic champion was handed an ambassadorial role for next year's inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. World Athletics announced last year it would hold the global championship as a grand conclusion to the 2026 season. It will then take place every two years. In a statement, World Athletics said Duplantis had been named 'Star Athlete' for the event. The governing body added that the pole vaulter would be among the "key collaborators pursuing their cultural passions outside of athletics in music, fashion, art, on-screen, who will promote the new global season-ending championship." The event will take place in Budapest with a record $10 million in prize money on offer. Gold medallists will each receive $150,000 as part of what the sport's world governing body has described as the richest prize pot ever in the sport. Duplantis won his second world title in 2023 in Budapest. He also broke his own pole vault world record there for a 13th time on Tuesday, soaring 6.29 metres at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Swede said he was hoping to set a new world record during the Ultimate Championship. "We're always looking for new ways to make sure that the spotlight shines on athletics and the Ultimate will light up Budapest," the 25-year-old added. "I have great memories of winning world gold two years ago and remember the incredible atmosphere inside the stadium that night. It would be a dream to break the world record in front of a packed crowd next year. "This event is set to showcase our sport like never before and I can't wait to be a part of it." The championship is scheduled to take place over three evenings next year from September 11 to September 13. Each session will last less than three hours, in a bid to capture the attention of global television viewers. The programme will feature 26 individual events – 16 track and 10 field – and two relays, including the new mixed 4x100m. REUTERS
The Star
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Athletics-Pole vault king Duplantis to promote World Athletics Ultimate Championship
FILE PHOTO: Athletics - Mondo Classic - IFU Arena, Uppsala, Sweden - March 13, 2025 Sweden's Armand Duplantis in action during the pole vault gala Fredrik Persson/TT News Agency via REUTERS/File Photo (Reuters) -Pole vault sensation Armand 'Mondo' Duplantis said he was excited to be part of the growth of athletics after the two-time Olympic champion was handed an ambassadorial role for next year's inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship. World Athletics announced last year it would hold the global championship as a grand conclusion to the 2026 season. It will then take place every two years. In a statement, World Athletics said Duplantis had been named 'Star Athlete' for the event. The governing body added that the pole vaulter would be among the "key collaborators pursuing their cultural passions outside of athletics in music, fashion, art, on-screen, who will promote the new global season-ending championship." The event will take place in Budapest with a record $10 million in prize money on offer. Gold medallists will each receive $150,000 as part of what the sport's world governing body has described as the richest prize pot ever in the sport. Duplantis won his second world title in 2023 in Budapest. He also broke his own pole vault world record there for a 13th time on Tuesday, soaring 6.29 metres at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The Swede said he was hoping to set a new world record during the Ultimate Championship. "We're always looking for new ways to make sure that the spotlight shines on athletics and the Ultimate will light up Budapest," the 25-year-old added. "I have great memories of winning world gold two years ago and remember the incredible atmosphere inside the stadium that night. It would be a dream to break the world record in front of a packed crowd next year. "This event is set to showcase our sport like never before and I can't wait to be a part of it." The championship is scheduled to take place over three evenings next year from September 11 to September 13. Each session will last less than three hours, in a bid to capture the attention of global television viewers. The programme will feature 26 individual events – 16 track and 10 field – and two relays, including the new mixed 4x100m. (Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Neeraj Chopra owns stage as he achieves yet another feat, realises dream of hosting own event
Neeraj Chopra achieved yet another feat in his illustrious career on Saturday by becoming the first Indian to compete in an international event as its host, owning the stage in an electrifying atmosphere at the Kanteerava Stadium here. The 27-year-old from Khandra village in Haryana's Panipat, who has won every accolade his sport has to offer, was the cynosure of all eyes as he fulfilled his lifetime dream. It is his way of giving back to the sport and to the fans the experience of watching him and other top international stars compete in front of their own eyes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play War Thunder now for free War Thunder Play Now Undo He has been inspired by world record holder Swedish pole vaulter Armando Duplantis and Kenyan distance running legend Kipchoge Keino who have international showpieces named after them -- Mondo Classic and Kip Keino Classic, which are World Athletics Continental Tour events. Chopra emulated Duplantis in having a single event World Athletics recognised competition in the name of an athlete. The world's best pole vaulters compete at Mondo Classic every year in Uppsala, Sweden. Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi is a multi-event competition. Live Events Under overcast, cool and windy conditions, and temperature measuring around 24 degree Celsius, the Kanteerava Stadium was not full but was enough to make deafening noise support to Chopra. Watched by family members and friends, Chopra was cheered by the adoring fans in all his throws in the 12-man competition. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah also watched the competition from the VVIP area. Chopra's parents and uncle as well as some close relatives were there. The double Olympic medallist and reigning world champion Chopra waved to the crowd while coming out for the first time to felicitate his coach and Czech javelin legend Jan Zelezny -- the world record holder with 98.48m -- before the competition. The crowd cheered the competitors when they came out, while Dhanda Nyoliwala performed Haryana hip-hop on the open field. The roar reached a crescendo when Chopra was ushered in. The event Initially set to be held in Panchkula, the event was relocated to Bengaluru due to lighting limitations at the original venue that affected live telecast capabilities. The event, granted Category A status by World Athletics, is considered a "dream project" of Chopra and aims to establish India as a credible host of elite-level athletics events. It had to be postponed following the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, including several tourists.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘I just randomly tweeted': Fan who got fully paid trip to NC Classic thanks to Neeraj Chopra, recounts experience
Ranjith Kumar Ravichandran became a viral sensation last month when his 'random' tweet was quote tweeted by Neeraj Chopra and now, the Coimbatore resident is at the Neeraj Chopra NC Classic event thanks to a fully paid trip thanks to the javelin star and the organizers. 'If anyone sponsor me 2000 rupees, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,' Ranjith had posted. Much to everyone's delight, Neeraj quote tweeted the post, saying that, 'Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the nc_classic is on me! And thanks to RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon.' 'I just randomly tweeted, I must have forgotten about it. After a day or so, suddenly a notification popped up in 'X' platform, a quoted tweet from Neeraj himself. I was like: Is this even real? Somebody come and pinch me so that I can feel it,' Ranjith told PTI. 'All of a sudden everything was happening. People were sharing the news and I was getting calls and all those things. I couldn't believe it initially. I checked twice. It's from Neeraj Chopra. I had to refresh and check it again whether it's real or not. Then I got a call (from NC Classic organisers) saying you are the lucky person to get sponsored to visit the event, stay in a (five-star) hotel and all those things. It was a pretty surreal moment at that time,' he added. The Neeraj Chopra Classic, the country's first-ever international javelin competition, will take place in Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday. A dream of Neeraj, the even bears his name like the Mondo Classic and Keeley Classic that are already part of the athletics calendar. NC Classic has been granted the World Athletics Gold level status. Asked what will be his first reaction when he meets Chopra in person for the first time, Ranjith said, 'I think I will be frozen for a moment. I will ask, are you real? I'll also get a signature so that I can probably frame it for a lifetime.' (With agency inputs)
Mint
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Mint
Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 LIVE: Bengaluru gears up for India's first major javelin showdown
05 Jul 2025, 04:41 PM IST The Neeraj Chopra Classic was approved as the gold-level meet by the World Athletics, just a rung below the Diamond League. The events starts from 7 PM IST at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. 05 Jul 2025, 04:38 PM IST The first-of-its-kind javelin competition in India, Neeraj Chopra Classic took inspiration several such events across the globe. One such event is the Mondo Classic, which is based on pole-vaulter Mondo Duplantis. 05 Jul 2025, 04:35 PM IST Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025.
