Latest news with #NCClassic
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Neeraj Chopra reclaims world number 1 rank in javelin throw, Arshad Nadeem placed fourth
Nine months after he'd relinquished the spot, Neeraj Chopra reclaimed the world number 1 rank in men's javelin throw, according to the latest World Athletics ranking update. The reigning world champion climbed to the top of the ladder with 1445 ranking points, ahead of Grenada's Anderson Peters, who is second with 1431 points. Neeraj's world number 1 ranking comes days before the first-ever NC Classic on July 5, a tournament he has envisaged to popularise the sport in India by bringing down top throwers for a one-day competition. Germany's Julian Weber, who holds the world-leading throw of 2025 with a 91.06m effort at the Doha Diamond League, is third in the rankings while Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan is fourth in the world rankings with 1370 points to his name. Czechia's Jakub Vadlejch, the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist, completes the top five. Neeraj had lost the top spot to Peters in September 2024, a month after the Paris Olympics where he'd won a silver medal to add to his gold medal from the Tokyo Olympics. Neeraj had complained of a nagging injury back then, which he said was impacting his performances. In 2025, however, he returned 'completely fit' and has been consistently good in all competitions so far. Neeraj began the year with a win at the Potch Invitational in Potchefstroom, South Africa, in April and followed it up with a second-place finish at the Doha Diamond League in May, where he recorded a new national record of 90.23m. Crucially, however, he entered the coveted 90m club. He came second again at the Janusz Kusocinski Memorial in Poland later that month but returned to winning ways at the Paris Diamond League in June with an 88.16m effort. Neeraj also added the Ostrava Golden Spike title to his name earlier this week. At all those events, Neeraj finished ahead of Peters. However, he is yet to face off against Nadeem this year. That showdown is likely to take place at the World Championships in September.
India.com
10 hours ago
- Sport
- India.com
Neeraj Chopra gives special gift to a fan for upcoming NC Classic Event, Indian Javelin star offers...
Neeraj Chopra. (PIC - X) New Delhi: Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra on Friday showed a big heart and decided to bear the entire travel expenses of a fan. In fact, a fan had expressed his desire to watch the first NC Classic tournament on social media on Wednesday and requested Rs 2000. In response, Golden Boy Neeraj Chopra himself promised to bear the entire cost of his trip to Bengaluru. Two-time Olympic medalist Chopra promised to give the fan a complete VVIP experience, which also includes accommodation in Bengaluru for the competition to be held on July 5. Neeraj Chopra gives a special gift Javelin enthusiast Ranjit Kumar Ravichandran from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, tweeted on social media that he wanted to watch this tournament in the name of Neeraj Chopra in India. He wrote, 'If anyone sponsor me 2000 rupees, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,' X user Ranjith (@iam_rrt) had posted on Wednesday, quoting a post by the event's official account. Chopra replied, 'Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! 'And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon!' he wrote in response. Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! 😊 And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon! 😉 — Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 27, 2025 The tournament was postponed due to India-Pakistan tensions The tournament was scheduled to be held on May 24 but was postponed due to India-Pakistan tension. Chopra and JSW Sports are jointly organising it and it has been recognised by the Athletics Federation of India. Seven top international javelin throwers and five Indian players will participate in it.
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Business Standard
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Neeraj Chopra turns fan's wish into a VVIP trip for NC Classic event
In a heartwarming gesture, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has sponsored a fan's all-expenses-paid trip to Bengaluru to attend the Neeraj Chopra Classic on July 5 — India's first global javelin competition. An X user, Ranjith from Coimbatore, reposted a video of the NC Classic event that is going to be held in Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium, saying: "If anyone sponsors me ₹2,000, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore." On Friday, Chopra reposted his post, saying that he will sponsor Ranjith's trip to Bengaluru for the event. "Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the NC Classic is on me! And thanks to Radisson Hotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon!" Chopra said, in a post on X. The post has garnered a lot of attention and appreciation online. What is Neeraj Chopra Classic? Neeraj Chopra Classic is India's flagship international javelin competition, announced earlier this year by the Olympic gold medallist. It was earlier scheduled for May 24, but was postponed amid the conflict and tensions between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam attack. Spearheaded by Chopra and held in collaboration with JSW Sports, the event has received official recognition from the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). As a World Athletics Gold Label competition, the event will see participation from leading javelin throwers across the globe, making it a first for India. Chopra had also invited Pakistan's Olympic gold medallist Arshad Nadeem for the event; however, he later opted out. After the Pahalgam attack, Chopra also said: "After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad's presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question. My country and its interests will always come first."
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First Post
15 hours ago
- Sport
- First Post
Neeraj Chopra's heartwarming gesture for fan wins hearts online ahead of inaugural NC Classic in Bengaluru
Javelin star Neeraj Chopra is already making headlines in connection with the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic without even having landed in Bengaluru, where the event will be taking place a little over a week from now. read more Neeraj Chopra is a strong favourite to win the inaugural edition of the tournament named after him despite the presence of 2024 Diamond League champion Anderson Peters. PTI After collecting back-to-back wins at the Paris Diamond League as well as Golden Spike Ostrava, the former being his first major triumph of the 2025 season, Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra will be turning his attention to an event that isn't just taking place on home soil, but is actually named after him. The 27-year-old double Olympic medallist and reigning world champion, after all, will be headlining the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic that will be taking place in Bengaluru on 5 July. And needless to say, he will be starting the event as a strong favourite for the top spot, especially considering his current form. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chopra surprises fan with 'VVIP experience' Chopra, however, has been making headlines in connection with the NC Classic before even arriving in the Karnataka capital. The javelin star, after all, has agreed to sponsor a fan from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu for the event, covering not just his trip to Bengaluru but also promising a VVIP experience complete with stay at Radisson. 'If anyone sponsor me 2000 rupees, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,' X user Ranjith (@iam_rrt) had posted on Wednesday, quoting a post by the event's official account. Chopra replied to Ranjith's post a couple of days later on the social networking platform. 'Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! 'And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon!' he wrote in response. Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! 😊 And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon! 😉 — Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 27, 2025 The inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic will be taking place at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium, home of the Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The event was originally scheduled to be held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana on 24 May, but was later moved to Bengaluru as Chopra felt the venue did not meet international standards required by world athletics. The event was later rescheduled to 5 July due to the conflict that broke out between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The 12-man field at the NC Classic will include four Indians besides Chopra, including Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Jena. The event also features Grenada's Anderson Peters, who had won bronze at the Paris Olympics last year behind Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem and Chopra, and later narrowly beat the Indian to the Diamond League title in Brussels. Nadeem, who had prevented Chopra from winning back-to-back Olympic gold medals with a monster 92.97m throw, , but was later left out after the Pahalgam terror attack as well as subsequent hostilities between New Delhi and Islamabad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Indian Express
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
How Neeraj Chopra made fan's wish come true with all expenses paid trip for inaugural NC Classic
Javelin star Neeraj Chopra made a fan's wish come true when he offered him a full VVIP experience, including an all expense paid trip to the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic, set in Bengaluru on July 5. On Wednesday, the fan had posted on X, saying that if anyone could give him Rs 2000, he would go to watch the event. 'If anyone sponsor me 2000 rupees, I can go to watch this from Coimbatore,' the Ranjith, the fan posted. Much to everyone's delight, Neeraj quote tweeted the post, saying that, ''Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the nc_classic is on me! And thanks to RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon. The NC Classic was postponed from its original May 24 date last month due to the India-Pakistan cross-border conflict last month. Hi, Ranjith. You've got a full VVIP experience waiting for you in Bengaluru because your trip to the @nc_classic is on me! 😊 And thanks to @RadissonHotels, you'll be staying about 90 metres away from me. See you soon! 😉 — Neeraj Chopra (@Neeraj_chopra1) June 27, 2025 Some of the world's top stars are set to line up for the event at the Kanteerava Stadium next month. Former World Champions Anderson Peters and Julius Yego, as well as Rio 2016 champion Thomas Rohler, were among the international stars confirmed to participate in the event. Neeraj had also reached out to the reigning Olympic champion, Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, who later opted out of the event. Neeraj, in a press conference last month, had said hosting this event, which was given Category A status by World Athletics, was a dream come true for him. 'People always ask me about what next after the Olympics, World Championships, Diamond League, etc. All my medals are special and are kept at home. It's great that I have won those. But, this… hosting such an event, I actually feel that I have given something back to Indian athletics,' he had said. Originally, Neeraj had said Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem was invited, just as most of the top javelin throwers in the world were. But he issued a statement later saying Nadeem's participation was out of question after the events of Pahalgam where 26 civilians were killed in the terrorist attack on April 22.
