Neeraj Chopra Triumphs at Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 with Stellar 86.18m Throw

Neeraj Chopra Shines at Home Event

Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra delivered an outstanding performance at the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 held in Bengaluru, achieving a personal best throw of 86.18 meters on his third attempt. The event took place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, where Kenya's Julius Yego secured the second position, while Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage finished third on the podium.

Chopra started off with a shaky first attempt, resulting in a foul. However, he quickly regained his composure in the second round, throwing 82.99 meters to briefly take the lead. His third-round throw of 86.18 meters solidified his position at the top, overtaking Pathirage.

Despite another foul in the fourth round, Neeraj maintained his lead with a strong fifth-round throw of 84.07 meters, keeping his competitors at a distance. Although this performance did not surpass his personal best, it was sufficient to secure victory against a field filled with elite athletes.

The throwing order was predetermined, with India's Sahil Silwal starting first and Neeraj concluding the lineup of twelve. The crowd erupted in cheers as each athlete was introduced, with Neeraj receiving the loudest applause. He expressed that he was 'not feeling any pressure' and was focused on delivering his best performance.

Originally scheduled to be held in Panchkula, Haryana, Neeraj's home state, the event was moved to Bengaluru. The stadium, which is home to Bengaluru FC of the Indian Super League (ISL), was buzzing with excitement. The meet was co-organized by JSW Sports and Neeraj himself, showcasing top-tier javelin action to an enthusiastic local audience.

Recognized with 'Gold Status' by World Athletics, the competition featured international athletes such as Curtis Thompson (USA), Martin Konecny (Czechia), Cyprian Mrzyglod (Poland), Luiz Mauricio da Silva (Brazil), and Thomas Roehler (Germany), along with several top Indian javelin throwers.

Notably absent were Grenada's Anderson Peters and India's Kishore Jena, both sidelined due to injuries. Pakistan's Olympic medal hopeful Arshad Nadeem also did not participate, following earlier controversies regarding his involvement after the Pahalgam terror attack, which Neeraj publicly addressed.

Despite the absence of some big names, the event was a resounding success, with Neeraj Chopra's impressive performance reaffirming his status as one of the world's best javelin throwers.