Hosting an event tougher than competing: Neeraj
'Being a host was tougher than being an athlete. It felt like preparing for an exam — with training, travel, and responsibilities piling up. But I still managed to throw well. I think all of this made me stronger,' Neeraj said in a candid post-event interaction.
In a first-of-its-kind international javelin event hosted in India and named after him, Neeraj balanced the dual roles of star competitor and lead organiser. 'Some days I was training 7–8 hours, travelling, and also making sure the event ran smoothly. I kept reminding the team: 'We have to perform too.' I'm very happy we pulled it off.'
Neeraj's gold came amid challenging wind conditions and rising expectations, especially from a full house in Bengaluru. 'I've trained here, watched BFC matches, and I know the city's passion. Some people thought the weekend might affect the turnout, but the crowd was incredible,' he said.
Reflecting on the technical aspects of the event, Neeraj noted that the crosswinds made execution difficult.
'Romesh and Julis were pushing hard today. I felt one of us would get a big throw. The wind kept shifting, but I'm glad I delivered and the medals stayed in India.'
Asked about the roar that followed his standout 84m+ throw, Neeraj said he felt it could have gone even further.
'That throw felt like 87–88m, but the headwind slowed it down. My coach showed me the video and told me, 'Relax, relax.' He was very busy but still told me 2–3 times. That kind of friendship — when you push and support each other mid-competition — is very special.'
He also shared how the pressure of having a competition named after him added to the mental load. 'At one point, I did feel, 'Yeh event mere naam ka hai, yaar,' so naturally there was a bit of pressure. But I was focused, and that made the medal even more meaningful.'
The Neeraj Chopra Classic saw enthusiastic participation from national and international athletes, and drew high praise for its organisation, atmosphere, and vision. Neeraj credited the Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, the Karnataka Government, and JSW Sports for their joint efforts in staging a global-quality meet in India.
'The first edition went off so well. It proves what we can do when everyone works together like one team. And we're just getting started,' he said.
As the crowd chanted his name and the Indian flag flew high, Neeraj left the field with gold in hand and a larger goal in mind: 'We wanted to show the world that India is ready to host big athletics events — and today, I believe we've taken the first big step.'
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