Neeraj Chopra Classic: Double Olympic Medallist Hopes To Spark Javelin Revolution

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Neeraj Chopra hosts India's first global javelin gala with Olympic stars, aiming to inspire young throwers and boost grassroots infrastructure for the sport.
Sachin Yadav sat in awe beside three Olympic medal-winning javelin throwers: Neeraj Chopra, Thomas Rohler, and Julius Yego. His presence on that glittering dais held deeper significance.
It represented Chopra's dream of making javelin a household sport across the nation.
In this context, the Neeraj Chopra Classic on Saturday could be India's equivalent to the Mondo Classic, a gala pole vault event hosted by world record holder and Olympic champion Armando Duplantis in his hometown Uppsala, Sweden.
Duplantis is driven by an unquenchable desire to break his own world records, having done so 15 times, but Chopra has broader ambitions.
Chopra emphasized the importance of inspiring the next generation of Indian javelin throwers.
'First of all, I want to thank Julius, Thomas, and everyone else from the heart of India. All are good friends of mine, and thank you so much for coming. Finally, we are sitting here with such great throwers. I am very happy that such an event is happening in India," Chopra said, appearing momentarily emotional.
The double Olympic medalist also ensured that the host country would have fair representation. Hence, apart from himself and Sachin, an Asian Championship silver winner, India will field Rohit Yadav, Sahil Silwal, and Yashvir Singh.
Chopra is not alone in his venture, as he has accomplished champions like Rohler and Yego by his side.
All these young Indian javelin throwers have a connection to Rohler, the 2016 Olympic gold medallist from Germany, as they learn from his popular YouTube channel.
Rohler said it was his duty to share his experiences and knowledge with aspiring athletes.
'I always love to share because only if I share, I will get into communication. I can leave a footprint. And to me, distances, medals, and all these things are just numbers on paper. I love to have a footprint in the sport.
'And this is why I don't hesitate to talk to the talents and also to open up because we do have experience in javelin. I'm really happy and glad that I can be an inspiration for many out there," he said.
'I know I also had an impact on these careers. So, this is just beautiful to see. And this is exactly the footprint that kind of makes me as happy as being an Olympic champion," Rohler added.
Chopra has already seen an upswing in the fortunes of javelin through these efforts, with more sponsors backing these events.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic has the support of an impressive array of corporates from private and public sectors — from JSW to BPCL.
'Yes, the sponsorship is increasing. I think private companies like JSW, Reliance, and others are supporting the athletes individually now, as it was not happening before," Chopra said.
'The athletes are getting a chance to compete abroad. The government's policy has also supported the athletes very well," he noted.
Chopra understands that India still has miles to cover before consistently challenging traditional athletics powerhouses in international competitions, and he wants to see changes at the grassroots level.
'I am from a village. I didn't have a stadium. I used to go to Panipat for training. If there was a stadium nearby, maybe more children would be able to train. I see one thing when I fly to Europe. We can see some 50 football stadiums every 10-15 minutes," he said.
'And we will see as many stadiums if we travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. So, there should be as many stadiums as possible," he noted.
Perhaps, the significant strides that Yadav has made in his fledgling career will boost Chopra's ambitions.
The promising 25-year-old did not want to miss the chance to impress his illustrious peers.
'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 have been excited to play here. There are players from all over the world, the best throwers. I can compete with everyone, and that too in India," said an overwhelmed Yadav.
Still, Bengaluru has not entirely embraced a World Athletics 'A' category event, a first in the city and the country.
'I keep coming to Bangalore. There is a lot of support. Sport is a passion for Bangalore people," Chopra remained optimistic.
Even if the turnout does not match his expectations, Chopra knows that all revolutions in world history have begun with a soft spark.
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