Neeraj Chopra is a two-time Olympic medal winning Indian javelin thrower.
The inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 - a World Athletics Gold Label event - will not feature reigning Olympic silver medallist Arshad Nadeem in light of the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, India that left 26 people dead.
In his place, Sri Lanka's Rumesh Pathirage has been included in the elite field of international javelin throwers. Pathirage has a personal best of 85.45m. Seven javelin throwers have already been named for the event. However, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has not yet announced the list of Indian throwers.
But two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, after whom the tournament is named, has already expressed his willingness to compete at the event. Neeraj opened his season in South Africa by winning the Potchefstroom Invitational with a throw of 84.52m last week.
The field is star-studded, with Rio Olympics gold medallist from Germany, Thomas Rohler, and former world champion Julius Yego, a trailblazer from Africa, among the elite athletes set to participate in the event, which will be held in Bengaluru on May 24.
Other names include Anderson Peters, the two-time world champion from Grenada. Peters is known for his explosive throws and has a personal best of 93.07m.
The event will be jointly organised by Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and JSW Sports, in association with the Athletics Federation of India and World Athletics. The event was originally set to be held in Panchkula, but was later shifted to Bengaluru due to logistical issues.
Pan American champion Curtis Thompson of the USA, Genki Dean of Japan – an Asian Games 2023 bronze medallist – and Luiz Mauricio da Silva of Brazil are the other javelin throwers who will compete at the event.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic is scheduled right after the Doha Diamond League, which is set for May 16.
Full List of Javelin Throwers at Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025:
Anderson Peters, Thomas Rohler, Julius Yego, Curtis Thompson, Genki Dean, Luiz Mauricio da Silva, Rumesh Pathirage.
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