Neeraj Chopra Classic Set to Feature Elite Athletes on July 5

Inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic Scheduled

The Neeraj Chopra Classic is gearing up for its inaugural event on July 5, featuring prominent athletes including two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, two-time world champion Anderson Peters from Grenada, Germany's Thomas Rohler, and Kenya's Julius Yego.

Initially planned for May 24, the event was postponed to July 5 due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Neeraj Chopra, who won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will be the star attraction at this meet named after him, facing tough competition from some of the sport's leading figures.

Event organizers announced a 12-member entry list for the NC Classic, which remains largely unchanged from the original lineup, with the exception of Japan's Genki Dean being replaced by Poland's Martin Konecny.

Joining Peters, Rohler, and Yego are other notable athletes such as Curtis Thompson, the Pan American Games champion from the USA, Brazil's Luiz Mauricio da Silva, and Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage.

Local athletes including Asian Games medallist Kishore Jena, Sachin Yadav, Rohit Yadav, and Sahil Silwal will also compete alongside Neeraj Chopra.

Sachin Yadav recently secured a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea, finishing just behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem.

The NC Classic is co-organized by Neeraj Chopra, JSW Sports, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and World Athletics (WA), and will take place at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

Originally set to be held at Panchkula's Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Haryana, the venue was changed due to floodlight issues.

As a WA 'A' category or Continental Tour Gold-level event, the NC Classic represents the highest tier of international athletics competition hosted in India.

Confirmed participants for the Neeraj Chopra Classic include:

Neeraj Chopra (IND)

Anderson Peters (GRN)

Luiz Mauricio da Silva (BRA)

Thomas Rohler (GER)

Curtis Thompson (USA)

Martin Konecny (POL)

Julius Yego (KEN)

Rumesh Pathirage (SRI)

Sachin Yadav (IND)

Rohit Yadav (IND)

Sahil Silwal (IND)

Kishore Jena (IND).