Latest news with #BengaluruFC
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Edmund, who once assisted against Mohun Bagan, returns to East Bengal as its new No. 10
East Bengal officially announced India forward Edmund Lalrindika as its new No. 10, signing him on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee this summer. This will be his second stint at the club, with the 26-year-old previously playing here on loan from Bengaluru FC in the 2019-20 season. He had assisted on his East Bengal debut in a Kolkata derby against Mohun Bagan on January 19, 2020, but an injury in the same game cut his time short. 'I've always dreamed of returning to East Bengal. I sustained an injury on my debut during my first stint. It couldn't get more unfortunate because it happened during a derby at the VYBK (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan),' Edmund said. 'Now that I am back, I believe I have some unfinished business here.' The forward takes over the No. 10 jersey from captain Cleiton Silva, who had led the side to the Super Cup last year. However, after falling out with head coach Oscar Bruzon, he mutually terminated his contract last season. 'Edmund is just fresh from an outstanding season with Inter Kashi, even earning well-deserved national team call-ups. We've been tracking his performances very closely,' Bruzon said. 'I am happy because we've secured a player who is growing in stature and can truly make a difference in diverse attacking situations.' Hailing from Mizoram, Edmund is a versatile attacker capable of playing as a centre-forward, winger and attacking midfielder. In the 2024-25 season, Edmund played 1,846 minutes across 24 matches for Inter Kashi, scoring four goals and providing six assists. The 26-year-old was a standout performer in the past two editions of the I-League, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists. A product of the AIFF Elite Academy, Edmund was part of the Bengaluru FC set-up from 2019 to 2024, before joining Inter Kashi on loan in 2023. The young forward has also represented India at the U-14, U-16, U-19 and senior levels. He made his senior national team debut in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait on June 6, 2024. 'Edmund's return is a massive boost for us. His proven track record, versatility and familiarity with East Bengal's ethos and passionate fan base make him an exciting addition. We believe he will play a pivotal role in our ambition to chase and win major titles,' Thangboi Singto, the club's Head of Football, said.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Neeraj Chopra continues to project javelin into mainstream consciousness with Bengaluru Classic
To perform as a top-level athlete is hard enough. To double up as the tournament organiser is a whole new challenge. All things considered, Neeraj Chopra passed this stern test. The Neeraj Chopra Classic, where the 27-year-old acted as the host alongside JSW, went off without a hitch. Busy turnstiles The Sree Kanteerava Stadium wore a festive look with 14,593 enthusiastic spectators — an impressive number normally reserved for high-profile Bengaluru FC football outings. Neeraj the athlete came into his own when the action commenced. After a foul throw on the first attempt, he struck gold on the third throw with a 86.18m heave. With the fan favourite claiming the title, the event followed the perfect script. There was, however, some disappointment that the distances recorded were well short of elite marks. The heavy winds no doubt made this a real challenge — a factor acknowledged by Neeraj and his rivals. The tournament could have done with a little more publicity and buzz, with many Bengalureans unaware that a world-class javelin field had assembled in their city. While this is perhaps a point to note when planning for the next edition of the NC Classic, a relieved Neeraj was happy that the event was completed successfully. ALSO READ | Smaller steps, stronger block, straighter throws: The S's Neeraj Chopra is working on for success 'I didn't expect such a good crowd in the first edition. We had so much support. I thank World Athletics for giving us a Continental Tour Gold event. It's a big thing for our country. I hope we bring more competitions like this in the future,' Neeraj said. 'The State government, Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, JSW, sponsors — everyone supported me. We all worked together like a team. I'm thrilled.' The big picture — to inspire young children to take up the sport of javelin — was fulfilled. The stands were filled with eager teenagers, accompanied by young adults who also harboured grand dreams of emulating the two-time Olympic medallist. When Neeraj entered the Sree Kanteerava Stadium to fireworks, the noise was deafening. The massive outpouring of love made him emotional. 'I felt so good that athletics is getting so much support. This is exactly what we wanted — people should watch track and field,' he said. 'Athletes work so hard, and it's all behind the curtains. Track and field is one of the hardest sports. All we want is for people to come and watch us perform. And when parents feel there is something to achieve in athletics, only then will they encourage their kids in track and field.' Neeraj gave an insight into his role as an organiser-cum-athlete. 'I was always thinking about the athletes and their friends. One day, at our hotel, I had to eat spicy food. I said, 'This spicy food is okay for me, but it will be too much for them [foreign competitors]'. So I changed the food menu at the hotel,' Neeraj laughed and said. Juggling duties Neeraj admitted that juggling host and athlete duties took a toll on his training and preparation. 'Being a pure athlete is difficult when you are an organiser. Being an athlete, you have to eat well three times a day, rest well, train. These things are tough to manage when you are also organising the event. But I did have help from the AFI and JSW team, so I did not have too much work to do. They managed mostly on their own,' Neeraj said. 'It was a new experience. When I am no longer an athlete, then maybe I can become a good tournament organiser.' ALSO READ | Neeraj Chopra Classic — a milestone moment in Indian athletics The stress carried over to the field as well. 'When we were entering the arena, there was a delay. If I was just an athlete, then a delay would not have bothered me. But in this case, I was worried. In between throws, I also checked in with the referees to ask if everything was going well. 'The mini car, which carried the javelin sticks to the athletes, was moving slowly. The competitors wanted it to be faster, so they could throw quickly. So I told them to walk up and pick up the sticks with their hands instead. Yes, I was noting all these small things,' Neeraj said. The decision to stage the tournament in Bengaluru came through unusual circumstances. The NC Classic was scheduled to be held in Panchkula on May 24, but floodlight issues at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium forced a shift to Bengaluru. The India-Pakistan cross-border tensions then prompted a postponement. All the uncertainty notwithstanding, Neeraj was satisfied that the showpiece was conducted in Bengaluru, a city he is quite familiar with. 'I used to come to Bengaluru to watch Bengaluru FC games. I have also trained in Bengaluru in the past. The people of Bengaluru enjoyed the night. I was here to showcase my passion for javelin throw. I was worried whether people would come to the stadium, but there was a lot of support,' he said. Neeraj's winning throw was nowhere near his personal best of 90.23m, but on a night affected by strong winds, it was enough to get the job done. Apart from the stiff breeze, Neeraj had to fight a bout of nerves as well. 'Mentally, it was very tough for me, because so many people came to support me. I was a little scared, especially since the tournament was in my name. I talked to my coach [world record holder Jan Zelezny], who told me to stay relaxed. My friend [and rival] Julius Yego also told me to be calm and throw far,' Neeraj said. ALSO READ | Stars give a thumbs up to Neeraj Chopra Classic 'There was also a lot of wind — both headwind and crosswind. It was a little strange. I had technical problems and messed up in the beginning. On my fifth throw, when I recorded 84.07m, I actually thought it would reach 87 to 88m. But the wind was blowing from the front, which made things difficult.' Platforming Indians The occasion allowed four other Indians — Sachin Yadav, Yash Vir Singh, Sahil Silwal and Rohit Yadav — to take on the world's best. Sachin Yadav (82.33m) did the best among the lot — a commendable performance given that he was carrying an ankle injury. 'Our big target was to lift Indian athletes and get them on par with international stars. We are already doing well in javelin. We have 80m-plus throwers. They got the chance to learn from Olympic and world champions,' Neeraj said. As and when he gets the chance to soak it all in, Neeraj will be a satisfied man. Not too long ago, the thought of conducting a standalone javelin event would have been brushed off as a joke. The NC Classic has proved that Indian track and field has the potential to enter the mainstream.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Perfect host Neeraj Chopra wins inaugural NC classic
Bengaluru: India's Neeraj Chopra competes in the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 international javelin competition, at Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, Karnataka. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI07_05_2025_000529A) Bengaluru: Neeraj Chopra responded to the chants of ' Neeraj , Neeraj, Neeraj' as he battled back after a foul on his first throw to etch his name in the winner's list in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic at the Sree Kanteerava stadium here on Saturday night. The 15000-odd spectators who almost filled up the stands, much like a Bengaluru FC home match in the Indian Super League, went back singing and dancing to the popular numbers of AR Rahman after they watched their favourite star take the gold beating the challenge from former world champion Julius Yego of Kenya. The two good friends went head-to-head as the competition warmed up after the first round which saw Neeraj check his run-up, before fouling his attempt in what looked like a big heave. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Yego, who went in sixth in the list of 12, came up with an effort of 80.07 as he became the first athlete on the day to breach the 80m mark. Brazilian Luiz Mauricio Da Silva improved it to 80.31m but Chopra was last in the order and came up with his first big throw of the night that landed at 82.99m. The illuminated marks on the field were put at 75m and 80m and then it was straight to the World Lead mark of 91.06m by German Juilan Weber. As the swirling head wind challenged some of the best javelin throwers in the business, the first thrower, India's Sahil Silwal, who twisted his ankle earlier, recorded a foul. Yego failed to improve his mark, settling at 79.73m, while Asian silver medallist Sachin Yadav came up with a big one that measured 82.33. Sri Lankan Rumesh Pathirage raised the level of the competition with a heave of 84.34m but Neeraj Chopra was in no mood to leave it late as he nailed the gold with a biggest heave of the day: 86.18m. Yego found his biggest throw of the day on his fourth attempt, as the field reduced to the top 9 after the first three rounds, that measured 84.51m. It was Yego's season's best effort which got him the silver and pushed Pathirage to settle for the bronze with his best of 84.34m. Chopra fouled his fourth and then recorded 84.07m on his penultimate attempt before the top-8 lined up for one last attempt. Neeraj was last in the order again but he had the gold in his pocket even before he went to the start of his run-up as Yego's challenge ended with a sixth round throw of 82.45m. The Indian star still tried to go past his best of the day but it was not to be as he settled for a last round of 82.22m. India's Sachin Yadav (82.33) finished fourth while Yashvir Singh (79.65) finished in eighth place. Rio Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler failed to get into the top-8 Results (top-8): 1. Neeraj Chopra (Ind, 86.18m), 2. Julius Yego (Ken, 84.51), 3. Rumesh Pathirage (84.34m), 4. Sachin Yadav (82.33), 5. Cyprian Mrzygłod (Pol, 82.23), 6. Curtis Thompson (USA, 81.5), 7. Luiz Mauricio Da Silva (Bra, 80.31), 8. Yashvir Singh (Ind, 79.65m) Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
NC Classic: Laser lights, loud music and enthusiastic crowd, Neeraj Chopra and javelin get a rousing welcome
Before the big boys of men's javelin got down to business, a carnival-like atmosphere engulfed the Kanteerava Stadium. A makeover aimed at making athletics spectator-friendly played out for an hour before the NC Classic began at 7.30 pm. This has been seen before, the razzmatazz pops up at IPL opening ceremonies or at curtain-raisers of National Games, but stadium-centric track-and-field competitions in the country have generally been treated as poorer cousins, despite the success of golden boy Neeraj Chopra. World record holder and Neeraj Chopra's coach Jan Zelezny casually strolled on the Kanteerava Stadium track like he was going for an evening walk. One of the most famous athletes in the world was pleasantly surprised by the applause he got when the stadium announcer took his name. The stand right behind the runway was packed, with the loudest fans waving red flags, banging inflatable noise-makers handed to them at the entry gates. Generally having a good time and willing to shout themselves hoarse at the drop of a hat or the flight of a javelin in a warm-up throw on a windy but pleasant Bengaluru evening. Not just a meet — it's a celebration. The stadium bay is alive with culture, colour, and crowd.#NeerajChopraClassic #GameOfThrows — Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) July 5, 2025 When Neeraj joined Zelezny in the middle for a quick discussion, there was a crescendo of cheers. Laser lights flashed, foot thumping music played and an all-female dance group performed. The turf, where Bengaluru FC play their home matches, was an immaculate patch of green hemmed in by LED display boards. Haryana rapper Dhanda Nyoliwala brought the house down when he announced the names of the throwers between two numbers and followed that by cheekily producing a shadow-practice throw. As the evening progressed, the fans got louder. Some of them were special invitees. One of the fans at the stadium was Ranjith Ravichandran from Coimbatore, who struck gold literally when Neeraj responded to his post on X asking 'anyone to sponsor Rs 2,000' so he could watch the NC Classic. Neeraj promised to sponsor his trip with full VVIP experience. On Saturday morning, the day after he turned 30, Ranjith, a staffer at an educational institution, was left star struck when he bumped into Neeraj at the official hotel. 'I was overwhelmed and wished him all the best. I told him India was lucky to have an athlete like him. He enquired about me and if everything was fine and also wished me all the best,' Ranjith, who is pursuing a Masters in data science from Bits Pilani, said. Ranjith had a personal setback last year, when his father Ravichandra passed away after a long illness. His younger sister Maheshwari is preparing for bank examinations. A former distance runner, he had participated at the district level in the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres while in college. 'I was on a tight budget in June that's why I posted on X about wanting Rs 2,000. I could not afford it at that time otherwise I would have never posted,' Ranjith said. The warm-up 🔥 has begun. Muscles primed. Minds focused. 📺 Watch it live on JioHotstar & StarSports.#NeerajChopraClassic #GameOfThrows — Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) July 5, 2025 When Neeraj replied, Ranjith was in disbelief. He wondered if it was a fake account. However, when Neeraj's team at JSW Sports got in touch, he realised he wasn't the target of a con. 'I saw it (Neeraj's post) but couldn't believe it and was unsure if it was the real Neeraj Chopra. Today as I am entering the stadium, I can't believe it has really happened.' Ranjith was one of the lucky ones watching from a privileged spot but the thousands that streamed in (about 10,000 paid tickets were up for sale) watched from bucket seats. The older ones were replaced for the NC Classic, say organisers. Outside, the usual suspects at cricket matches were spotted; face-painters charging Rs 20 for a Tricolour on the cheeks. Some things were left for the last minute, like it happens in these parts of the world. A group of workers were carrying the wooden podium without the vinyl covering, taking breaks to catch their breath, a couple of hours before the start. By the time each athlete walked over a red carpet between two lines of giant sparklers with a child in tow, football-style, the atmosphere was electric. Thomas Rohler, the 2016 Olympic champion, high-fived each of the kids in a light-hearted fun moment. Some of the best in the world were in Bengaluru to compete but also wanted to have fun at the NC Classic. Neeraj was next. Chants of 'Neeraj', 'Neeraj', 'Neeraj' sounded like the famous one that resounded across cricket stadiums in India in the 90s and noughties when another superstar walked out.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Neeraj Chopra Classic: Excited champion banks on Bengaluru's passion for sports
Bengaluru: It was yet another hectic day for Neeraj Chopra on Friday as he addressed a packed press gathering, assembled from around the country, in the morning here. By evening, he slipped into the organiser's role at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on the eve of the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin competition. "Everything is going on smoothly and I'm all excited to start the event on Saturday. I have come here twice or thrice in the past to watch matches of Bengaluru FC (at this stadium). I get very good support here because people in Bangalore have the passion for sports," Chopra said. It was a moment to cherish for the young athletes, workers and volunteers who were giving the finishing touches to the stadium as India's champion athlete went around thanking dozens of women working at the stadium. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Rising athlete Tanmaya Prasad was star-struck as Neeraj posed for a photograph with her. Tanmaya, who has enrolled herself as a volunteer for the meet, told TOI. "I told him that I'm also a javelin thrower and he encouraged me." The first-year BBA student from St Joseph's College of Commerce, added: "A lot of my friends are coming to watch the meet, and my entire training group will be there." Asked about the interest shown by the private sector in sports, Neeraj said: "Support for sports from corporates is improving. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Now, we have JSW, Reliance and other individual sponsors for athletes. Athletes are getting a chance to go abroad and compete. It was not like this before. Even the Central govt's TOP policy is helping athletes a lot." The meet is a dream come true for Neeraj who now believes he has given something back to the sport and the country. "We need more grounds and stadiums as NIS coaches have to go to the villages and hunt for talent. In Europe, when I fly, I get to see 50 stadiums (football, athletics etc) within a span of 10-15 mins. But in India, we'd need to travel from Kashmir to Kanyakumari to see that many stadiums. I didn't have a stadium when I grew up, so I had to go to Panipat to train," the world champion recalled.
