India's Olympic and World Champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra won the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) 2025 held at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. The event marked a historic milestone as it became the first-ever World Athletics Continental Tour Gold Level (Category A) athletics event organised in India.
On 5 July 2025, Neeraj Chopra secured victory at the inaugural NC Classic 2025 with a best throw of 86.18 metres. The competition brought together leading international and Indian javelin throwers and represented a significant step in India's emergence as a host of elite global athletics events.The tournament was co-organised by Neeraj Chopra, JSW Sports, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and World Athletics.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 3 July 2025 | Official preview of Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 released |
| 5 July 2025 | NC Classic 2025 held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 5 July 2025 | Neeraj Chopra wins inaugural title with 86.18m throw |
| 6 July 2025 | Official reports published highlighting India's first World Athletics Gold-level event |
The NC Classic 2025 featured a field of 12 javelin throwers, including seven international athletes and leading Indian competitors.Neeraj Chopra started the competition with a foul attempt. He then registered 82.99 metres in his second attempt to move into the lead. After briefly losing the top position to Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage, Chopra reclaimed the lead with a throw of 86.18 metres on his third attempt, which eventually proved to be the winning effort.He followed this with throws of 84.07 metres and 82.22 metres in his remaining valid attempts and comfortably retained the top position.
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Best Throw |
| 1 | Neeraj Chopra | India | 86.18 m |
| 2 | Julius Yego | Kenya | 84.51 m |
| 3 | Rumesh Pathirage | Sri Lanka | 84.34 m |
| 4 | Sachin Yadav | India | 82.33 m |
Julius Yego, the 2015 World Champion and Rio Olympics silver medallist, achieved a season-best throw of 84.51 metres to secure second place.Rumesh Pathirage of Sri Lanka finished third with a throw of 84.34 metres.India's Sachin Yadav, silver medallist at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships, finished fourth with 82.33 metres.Rio 2016 Olympic Champion Thomas Rohler of Germany had a disappointing outing, finishing eleventh with 75.85 metres.
The inaugural edition of the NC Classic created a landmark moment in Indian athletics.
The competition became:
The event demonstrated India's growing capability to host world-class athletics competitions and strengthened its position within the international athletics ecosystem.
The successful organisation of the NC Classic reflects the growing stature of Indian athletics on the global stage. Traditionally, India has been a participant rather than a host in elite athletics competitions. By hosting a World Athletics Gold-level event, India has demonstrated both organisational capability and growing international credibility in track and field sports.The tournament also signifies the transformative impact of Neeraj Chopra on Indian athletics. Since winning the Olympic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and subsequently becoming World Champion, Chopra has helped elevate public interest in athletics beyond cricket and other mainstream sports. The establishment of a competition bearing his name indicates the emergence of athlete-led sporting ecosystems in India.From a sporting perspective, the event provides Indian athletes with opportunities to compete against elite international throwers on home soil, thereby enhancing exposure, performance standards and competitive experience.The NC Classic can also contribute to the long-term development of athletics infrastructure, talent identification and international event hosting capacity in India. If sustained, such events may strengthen India's ambitions of becoming a major destination for global sporting competitions.
The NC Classic was Neeraj Chopra's sixth competitive event of the 2025 season.His performances include:
The NC Classic was also his first competitive appearance in India since winning the Federation Cup in Bhubaneswar in 2024.
| Particular | Details |
| Name | World Athletics |
| Former Name | International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) |
| Established | 1912 |
| Headquarters | Monaco |
| Governing Body For | International Athletics |
| Major Functions | Regulation of athletics, world rankings, records, global competitions and Continental Tours |
| Particular | Details |
| Name | Athletics Federation of India |
| Established | 1946 |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Function | National governing body for athletics in India |
| Role in NC Classic | Co-organiser of the event |
The World Athletics Continental Tour is a global series of athletics competitions organised by World Athletics.The competition structure includes:
The Gold Level category represents one of the highest tiers of international athletics competitions outside the Diamond League circuit.