Neeraj Chopra: Success of NC Classic important so that more Indians gets chance to shine in future
Neeraj Chopra hopes the Neeraj Chopra (NC) Classic javelin throw meet, set to happen in Bengaluru on Saturday, will set the precedent for many more top-quality international athletic events in India.
The NC Classic, co-hosted by the double Olympic medallist, will be the highest-rated athletics event to happen in India.
Speaking at a media interaction on the eve of the event, alongside fellow participants Thomas Rohler, Julius Yego and Sachin Yadav, Neeraj elaborated the meet’s significance.
“The biggest thing is that we have to make this event a success. For performance, of course, we all have to throw well. But even more important is that we make this event successful so that we can develop it and go bigger in the future, add other events to give Indian athletes a chance,” said Neeraj.
The 27-year-old, who is the reigning world champion, added that the NC Classic is something which existed beyond his imagination until recently.
“This is a dream I have never dreamt of. I am very happy that something like this is happening. With the support we are getting from the government, AFI (Athletics Federation of India), World Athletics and sponsors, it feels like we can do anything.
“Yesterday, I was training in the gym, and Thomas and the other throwers were training on the ground. That’s when it hit me that this was what I wanted, and it’s finally happening,” Neeraj added.
Kenya’s Yego, who won the world championship in 2015, observed that the attention garnered by the NC Classic is a reaffirmation of how javelin is going global.
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“You know, when I came up, javelin was mostly as a European-centric event. I won in 2015, and then Chopra came, and the sport went global.
Now Chopra has come up with this initiative, making it even better. So when my manager informed me about this event, I immediately told him, ‘Yes, I have to go to India, because Chopra is my good friend.’ And here we are,” said Yego.
Rohler, who won the javelin gold in the Rio Olympics, opined that the NC Classic is the second stage of progression for javelin in a country like India, following the emergence of Neeraj as a global sporting icon.
“For me, this is like the second logical step to bring the sport to the people, not only on TV but also in person. And then the third step is the responsibility, which is a challenge. Because there will be a lot of talent. But who coaches them? Who builds the infrastructure?
These talents will demand support. They would want to get better. Then the challenge comes up in setting up something sustainable. So, I would love to see India and all the countries around it to be really involved in the sport,” said Roher.
