Neeraj Chopra Aims to Bring Diamond League to India with His Eponymous Event

Neeraj Chopra Aims to Bring Diamond League to India with His Eponymous Event

Neeraj Chopra is set to fulfill a significant milestone in his career by hosting the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin competition in Bengaluru next month. The event, scheduled for May 24, will be a World Athletics Gold category meet featuring renowned athletes such as former world champions Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, 2016 Olympic gold medalist Thomas Roehler, and American Curtis Thompson, among others.

Chopra, who secured gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but settled for silver behind Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem in Paris last year, mentioned that Nadeem has been invited to the competition, though his participation is not yet confirmed. “He is consulting with his coach, and we are waiting for confirmation,” Chopra stated during a virtual press conference.

While India and Pakistan have suspended bilateral cricket due to political tensions, both nations continue to compete in Olympic sports, including athletics. Chopra, the first Indian track-and-field athlete to achieve Olympic gold, world championship victory, and Diamond League success, has become a trailblazer in promoting Olympic sports in India, where cricket dominates.

Chopra expressed his excitement about having a prestigious event named after him. “It’s always been a dream of mine to see India host a world-class athletic event. Having an event like this, named after me, feels surreal,” he said. The event will become an annual fixture and expand to include more disciplines, offering local talent the chance to compete alongside the world’s best athletes.

Chopra’s vision extends to bringing a Diamond League event to India in the future. He believes it is achievable, given India’s growing enthusiasm for athletics, the presence of top-tier stadiums, and World Athletics’ awareness of the increasing popularity of the sport in the country.

 

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