NC Classic 2025: Neeraj Chopra claims expected win in tough conditions
After fouling on his first attempt of the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic meet, Neeraj Chopra got on board and into the competition lead in the second round with an 82.99m effort.
His coach, Jan Zelezny, though, wasn’t a pleased man and rightfully so.
From the sidelines, an animated Zelezny elaborated on the changes he wanted as his ward nodded along. Neeraj soon remeasured his run-up and altered his crossover mark.
The change soon paid dividends as he fired in an 86.18m throw, which helped him regain the competition lead from Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, who in the third round had registered 84.34m, the third-best throw of his career.
The lead wouldn’t change hands from thereon as Neeraj eased into a comfortable and expected win in the event co-hosted by him at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.
Former world champion Julius Yego found his rhythm in the fourth round with a season’s best throw of 84.51m to finish second, while Pathirage finished third at the NC Classic, the highest-rated athletics event to happen in India.
AS IT HAPPENED | NEERAJ CHOPRA CLASSIC 2025 HIGHLIGHTS
The action was witnessed by a boisterous crowd, counting close to 15,000, which made no effort to hide its added affinity for Neeraj.
Bengaluru’s weather, though, wasn’t as kind. While the city’s traditional evening spell of rain chose to stay away, almost all throwers struggled against a belligerent headwind, which made its presence felt throughout the meet.
A sharp drop in temperature right before the first throw delayed the athletes from hitting top form. No one crossed the 80m in the opening round.
Kenya’s Yego was the first one to cross the 80m mark in the evening, as he pulled off an 80.07m effort in the second round.
Pathirage and Neeraj took over from thereon as they traded the lead twice, before the latter, egged on by his coach and an eager home crowd, sealed the win.
Rio Olympics champion Thomas Rohler was a surprise early victim as he failed to clear the elimination round, registering just 75.85m with his only legal attempt.
India’s Yashvir Singh and Sachin Yadav struck form right before the elimination as they landed 79.65m and 82.33m throws respectively.
