Bengaluru: In a historic evening for Indian athletics, Neeraj Chopra won the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 javelin event at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, topping the field with a best throw of 86.18 metres.

The event made history as the first-ever international javelin competition hosted in India, drawing big names and creating a buzz rarely seen for field events in the country. Despite extremely windy conditions, the reigning Olympic champion and two-time Olympic medalist delivered when it mattered, adding another golden moment to his illustrious career—this time on home soil, at a tournament named in his honour.

2016 Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego of Kenya secured second place with a strong throw of 84.51m, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage—a former under-16 fast bowler who switched to javelin—clinched bronze with 84.34m.

India’s Sachin Yadav narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing fourth with a respectable 82.33m.

The event not only showcased world-class javelin talent but also underlined Neeraj Chopra’s enduring status as the face of Indian track and field—and his power to bring top-tier athletics home.

"It was mentally tough for me because I know everyone had their eyeballs on me. My entire family is here, so I was nervous about that too," Chopra told the press.