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Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 Live Updates: Bengaluru set for inaugural NC Classic showdown with Neeraj and Co in action
Neeraj Chopra NC Classic 2025 Match Result Live Updates: India's superstar athlete Neeraj Chopra is all set to host and be the face of the NC Classic 2025, his dream project, tonight in Bengaluru. Deeply involved in the World Athletics Category A event's planning and execution, the two-time Olympic medallist has even touched upon the smallest details, including the food for international athletes. Chopra expressed immense joy at seeing his vision come to life, recalling his inspiration from watching elite javelin throwers train. 'If I talk about the business side, for me right now the only aim is to make this event a success. That is my focus. That the NC Classic is happening, that in itself is a big thing. Rest of the things don't matter now. I want to promote the sport,' he said on the eve of the inaugural NC Classic. Chopra certainly wouldn't want anybody to mistake the hospitality for a lack of competitiveness in a year where he has hit new heights quite literally, having breached the 90-m mark at Doha Diamond League meet. With wins in the Ostrava Golden Spike and the Paris Diamond League, Neeraj is primed for a special home win at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in a competitive field. NC Classic 2025 Start List Neeraj Chopra (India) Curtis Thompson (USA) Martin Konecny (Czechia) Julius Yego (Kenya) Cyprian Mrzyglod (Poland) Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil) Rumesh Pathirage (Sri Lanka) Thomas Röhler (Germany) Sachin Yadav (India) Sahil Silwal (India) Rohit Yadav (India) Yashvir Singh (India) The impact of a 90-m throw: Rohler, Yego explain the body dynamics World champion Neeraj Chopra cleverly avoided a question about consistently throwing 90 meters, deflecting it to veteran javelin throwers Julius Yego and Thomas Rohler. Chopra himself cleared the 90-meter mark at the Doha Diamond League in May. Before Yego and Rohler could elaborate on the challenges, Neeraj light-heartedly stated, "They are better people to answer." Indeed, among the athletes at Saturday's NC Classic, Yego and Rohler are the two seasoned members of the exclusive 90-meter club. Rohler, who achieved 90-meter throws seven times before a back injury sidelined him, is currently on a comeback. He emphasized the significant physical toll a 90-meter throw takes on the body. (READ MORE)
Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
NC Classic: Neeraj Chopra ready for his dream event – between worrying about spice levels in food, finding time to train
Sitting alongside two greats of men's javelin, Thomas Rohler and Julius Yego, Neeraj Chopra on Friday narrated a pinch-himself-moment from the previous evening. When at the gym in the Kanteerava Stadium, Neeraj saw Rohler and others training on the field. That's when it struck him that the Neeraj Chopra Classic, his dream project, was just 48 hours away. The two-time Olympic and World Championship medallist was overwhelmed. 'I was telling them that I was in the gym, and saw you and the others throwing. It was my dream that it would happen in India and now finally it is here. So thank you,' Neeraj said looking towards Rohler and Yego. In a new role as the face of the World Athletics Category A event, Neeraj has knuckled down and got to work ensuring that everything is in the best order. That includes worrying about the spice in the food at the official team hotel, another example of him being a good host. 'I was telling them about the food, I was thinking of you guys hoping it is not too spicy,' Neeraj said. For the benefit of Rohler and Yego, he kept translating into English after answering questions in Hindi. Neeraj, his sponsors and backers, have shelled out money for appearance fees, travel and accommodation for some of the top javelin throwers in the world, a ball-park figure of Rs 4 crore is being talked about as the entire cost of hosting the NC Classic. Till early last week, they were still some way from breaking even with major sponsors on board. But the inaugural edition of the NC Classic is not about the bottomline. When asked about the funding and business model, Neeraj sounded like a parent conducting the first wedding in a family. Burning a small hole in the pocket didn't matter at this stage. 'If I talk about the business side, for me right now the only aim is to make this event a success. That is my focus. That the NC Classic is happening, that in itself is a big thing. Rest of the things don't matter now. I want to promote the sport,' he said. The current world champion has had a lot on his plate. He's been in Bengaluru for a week, going the extra mile to ensure a glitch-free event. Being on the other side, he's already spoken about having 'new-found respect for people who put an event together'. 'One of the toughest parts was to think and plan about such a big event and then also having to compete in it. The mind of an athlete is a bit slow. For me, so far it has been about just competing,' Neeraj said. He also spoke like a serious sports administrator with a long-term vision for the growth of the sport. 'As we see, there are so many international competitions in Germany and other nations almost every week. So, this is what I want in India, as there should be at least four-five competitions which are world-class. The athletes should get a chance and people should see them play. That will be very good for our sport,' the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist said. Sachin Yadav, 25, sitting beside Neeraj and sharing the dais with Rohler and Yego, is one of the five Indian athletes in the fray. There's been talk of Sachin, an Asian Championship silver medallist, being the one to carry Neeraj's legacy forward. Sachin, a man of few words, said he was looking forward to sharing the field with some of the greats. He remembers the day Neeraj got in touch with him. 'I couldn't believe that I got a message from Neeraj bhai. Thanks so much to Neeraj bhai for inviting me to this competition. I am very happy to be here. There are throwers from all over the world, some of the best. I can compete with everyone and that too in India,' Sachin said. Rohler, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist, said the inaugural NC Classic was a step forward for the sport in India. 'Neeraj being on the top of the world in the sport… this is like the logical step to bring the sport to the people, not only on TV but in person,' Rohler said. The German, however, said quality coaches are key to tap the potential of the next generation. 'There are talented athletes, but who will coach them? So I am looking forward to seeing the whole development of the sport to make it something sustainable and not just a small trend,' he said. Yego, who like Neeraj in India, was the javelin trend-setter in Kenya, a country famous for its long-distance runners. The emergence of world-class throwers from outside the traditional powerhouse countries has warmed his heart, Yego said. 'Who would have thought that India would have a competition featuring only javelin. So we might see next year, or years to come, more countries deciding to host javelin competitions. This is a good initiative and coming from one of our friends, Chopra. So the sport is growing,' Yego said. Back in the official hotel, there were fans waiting to click selfies with Neeraj. He had a final training session in the evening, followed by a pre-event dinner for the athletes, officials and guests. On the eve of the big day, Neeraj had a hundred things on his mind. He was hard-pressed for time but seemed to have things under control. Like he does, more often than not, once a competition begins.
Deccan Herald
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Deccan Herald
I want to leave a footprint: Thomas Rohler ahead of Neeraj Chopra Classic
Speaking about the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meet that the Indian star has managed to bring to the country, Rohler hoped that it would grow in the future and make a broader impact.
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra Classic: What impact does throwing javelin beyond 90m have on the body? Thomas Rohler, Julius Yego break it down
World champion Neeraj Chopra smartly side-stepped a 90-metre question by saying the Kenyan Julius Yego and German Thomas Rohler would be better placed to give answers. Chopra got the 90-metre barrier monkey off his back at the Doha Diamond League in May this year. Before Yego and Rohler could elaborate on the challenge of consistently throwing 90 metres, Neeraj was double quick. 'They are better people to answer,' he said half-jokingly. Indeed, in the field of athletes at the NC Classic on Saturday, they are the two veteran members of the 90m club. Rohler crossed 90 metres seven times before a back injury put him on the sidelines. He is on a comeback trail. The physical toll, post a 90-metre throw, is immense, Rohler said. 'Throwing 90 metres has a huge impact on the body. So once you've thrown 90 meters, the next thing you're going to do is rest a little bit. Because the impact is high, and people from the streets (fans) need to understand that we have one ton of weight, which is like a small car, impact on the block foot. This is javelin throwing. It's not yoga, okay? So it's really tough,' Rohler, the 2016 Rio Olympics champion, said. Talking to The Indian Express, Yego, the 2015 World Champion, and a javelin throw pioneer in Kenya, described the impact of a 90m throw on the body at the time of blocking and release, akin to pulling the handbrake of a car going at 100 miles an hour. 'You never know what happens inside the body because of the impact. Because you need to stop. It is like, sometimes you are going 100 kilometers in a car and you have to use the emergency brake,' Yego explained. He gives the example of what happened after this personal best throw of 92.72 metres at the 2015 Beijing World Championships. He struggled for a while to nail a big throw. The same happened when he threw 91.39 metres at the Diamond League in Birmingham in the same year. 'When I did 91 in Birmingham, I completely shut down. When I went to Beijing, I was even struggling to make the top 8. So that 92 meters was my last chance to try to be among the top 8, but luckily it became the winning distance at the World Championship, and immediately after that I struggled a lot,' Yego said. READ MORE | Neeraj Chopra Classic: Good host and great competitor – Neeraj Chopra ready for his dream event on home soil Post a 90-metre throw, an athlete feels good in training, but when it comes to competition, it is different. 'I think it impacts the whole body because after competition, you feel that your body is completely worn out. I don't know what happens because when you are training, you feel well, but when you go to a competition, the distance doesn't come. So maybe you need to go for a service like a car, to energise,' Yego said. Yego also caught up with world record holder Jan Zelezny, Neeraj's coach, who is also in Bengaluru, and discussed the 90-metre challenge. Zelenzy has crossed the mark 34 times. 'I spoke with Jan yesterday evening about it. When you get onto the runway, you can never know how far you will throw. The 90 meters will come by itself. But very few athletes have maintained that standard of throwing over 90 meters for long without even a break. I think the only one who has done that many times is Jan.' Rohler said mental toughness is also a requisite to breach the barrier. 'Doing it again and again is a mental challenge. It's about dealing with the pressure from the outside. We need to see the percentage of people in the world who threw over 90 meters. It is so small. So it's magical and I think we should all appreciate every moment we can witness these throws.' The expectation of a 90 metres throw in every second competition is unfair, Rohler added. 'We need to look back to 2012. You won the Olympic Games with 84 meters. Now people expect you to throw 90 meters. And if you don't do it, people will ask you if it was a bad day?'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
NC Classic: Good host and great competitor – Neeraj Chopra ready for his dream event on home soil
Sitting alongside two greats of men's javelin, Thomas Rohler and Julius Yego, Neeraj Chopra on Friday narrated a pinch-himself-moment from the previous evening. When at the gym in the Kanteerava Stadium, Neeraj saw Rohler and others training on the field. That's when it struck him that the Neeraj Chopra Classic, his dream project, was just 48 hours away. The two-time Olympic and World Championship medallist was overwhelmed. 'I was telling them that I was in the gym, and saw you and the others throwing. It was my dream that it would happen in India and now finally it is here. So thank you,' Neeraj said looking towards Rohler and Yego. In a new role as the face of the World Athletics Category A event, Neeraj has knuckled down and got to work ensuring that everything is in the best order. That includes worrying about the spice in the food at the official team hotel, another example of him being a good host. 'I was telling them about the food, I was thinking of you guys hoping it is not too spicy,' Neeraj said. For the benefit of Rohler and Yego, he kept translating into English after answering questions in Hindi. Neeraj, his sponsors and backers, have shelled out money for appearance fees, travel and accommodation for some of the top javelin throwers in the world, a ball-park figure of Rs 4 crore is being talked about as the entire cost of hosting the NC Classic. Till early last week, they were still some way from breaking even with major sponsors on board. But the inaugural edition of the NC Classic is not about the bottomline. When asked about the funding and business model, Neeraj sounded like a parent conducting the first wedding in a family. Burning a small hole in the pocket didn't matter at this stage. 'If I talk about the business side, for me right now the only aim is to make this event a success. That is my focus. That the NC Classic is happening, that in itself is a big thing. Rest of the things don't matter now. I want to promote the sport,' he said. The current world champion has had a lot on his plate. He's been in Bengaluru for a week, going the extra mile to ensure a glitch-free event. Being on the other side, he's already spoken about having 'new-found respect for people who put an event together'. 'One of the toughest parts was to think and plan about such a big event and then also having to compete in it. The mind of an athlete is a bit slow. For me, so far it has been about just competing,' Neeraj said. He also spoke like a serious sports administrator with a long-term vision for the growth of the sport. 'As we see, there are so many international competitions in Germany and other nations almost every week. So, this is what I want in India, as there should be at least four-five competitions which are world-class. The athletes should get a chance and people should see them play. That will be very good for our sport,' the Tokyo Olympics gold medallist said. Sachin Yadav, 25, sitting beside Neeraj and sharing the dais with Rohler and Yego, is one of the five Indian athletes in the fray. There's been talk of Sachin, an Asian Championship silver medallist, being the one to carry Neeraj's legacy forward. Sachin, a man of few words, said he was looking forward to sharing the field with some of the greats. He remembers the day Neeraj got in touch with him. 'I couldn't believe that I got a message from Neeraj bhai. Thanks so much to Neeraj bhai for inviting me to this competition. I am very happy to be here. There are throwers from all over the world, some of the best. I can compete with everyone and that too in India,' Sachin said. Rohler, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist, said the inaugural NC Classic was a step forward for the sport in India. 'Neeraj being on the top of the world in the sport… this is like the logical step to bring the sport to the people, not only on TV but in person,' Rohler said. The German, however, said quality coaches are key to tap the potential of the next generation. 'There are talented athletes, but who will coach them? So I am looking forward to seeing the whole development of the sport to make it something sustainable and not just a small trend,' he said. Yego, who like Neeraj in India, was the javelin trend-setter in Kenya, a country famous for its long-distance runners. The emergence of world-class throwers from outside the traditional powerhouse countries has warmed his heart, Yego said. 'Who would have thought that India would have a competition featuring only javelin. So we might see next year, or years to come, more countries deciding to host javelin competitions. This is a good initiative and coming from one of our friends, Chopra. So the sport is growing,' Yego said. Back in the official hotel, there were fans waiting to click selfies with Neeraj. He had a final training session in the evening, followed by a pre-event dinner for the athletes, officials and guests. On the eve of the big day, Neeraj had a hundred things on his mind. He was hard-pressed for time but seemed to have things under control. Like he does, more often than not, once a competition begins.
