New Delhi [India], April 10 (HBTV): The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) javelin throw competition is scheduled to be held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana, on May 24, according to Olympics.com and confirmed by World Athletics.
The NC Classic, a one-day javelin event, has been classified as a World Athletics 'A' category meet, equivalent in ranking points to a Continental Tour Gold-level competition.
The Continental Tour is a second-tier global athletics series positioned below the Diamond League. Launched in 2020 as the successor to the World Challenge series, it features four tiers: gold, silver, bronze, and challenger.
Headlined by India's Olympic gold medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, the event is expected to attract top male and female javelin throwers from around the world, marking a significant milestone for Indian athletics.
Former Athletics Federation of India President Adille Sumariwalla had earlier stated that the invitational competition would include the world’s top 10 javelin throwers in both the men's and women's categories.
Neeraj Chopra is keen to make the event an annual fixture in the global athletics calendar, with plans to expand it by including other track and field disciplines.
‘It has been a longstanding dream of mine to organise and bring a world-class javelin competition to India. I am sure that my fellow athletes and the fans in India will both create an experience that will be spoken about for a long time. I am excited to see how big we can make this,’ Neeraj Chopra said earlier this year.
Chopra last competed on Indian soil in 2024 at the National Federation Senior Athletics Competition in Bhubaneswar, where he recorded a throw of 82.27 metres.
At the Summer Games, the 27-year-old fell short of defending his gold medal but delivered an impressive performance, registering a best throw of 89.45 metres to win silver. Despite a strong second attempt, four consecutive foul throws kept him from reclaiming the top podium finish.
(ANI)