Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra to headline global javelin event in May 2025; invites top throwers including Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem. Bengaluru selected over Panchkula due to technical issues.
New Delhi, April 22, 2025:
Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra is gearing up to host a high-profile, one-day international javelin event in Bengaluru this May. Organised by JSW Sports, the meet will feature a stellar lineup of world-class athletes, including a special invite extended to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem — Chopra’s long-time rival and friend on the field.
Speaking to reporters on April 21, Chopra confirmed,
“Yes, I have spoken to Arshad Nadeem. He said he would speak to his coach and get back. He hasn’t confirmed yet. It will also involve government permissions, so we’ll know more once everything is finalised.”
The event will be held at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, after an earlier plan to host it at Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana, was dropped due to insufficient lighting for live broadcast standards.
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“The Panchkula stadium had only 600 lux lighting, while we needed more for quality broadcasting. There wasn’t enough time to upgrade, so Bengaluru became the best option,” Chopra explained.
The event will feature India’s top javelin athletes, including Rohit Yadav, alongside Chopra himself — who is currently prepping for the Paris Olympics after winning silver at the last edition.
Among the global stars who have already confirmed participation are:
- Anderson Peters (Grenada) – Two-time World Champion
- Thomas Röhler (Germany) – Olympic Gold Medallist
- Yulius Yego (Kenya) – Former World Champion
- Curtis Thompson (USA) – Current world leader
Chopra also confirmed that he has held discussions with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has extended full support to the event.
The meet is expected to be a rare moment of sporting diplomacy if Nadeem is cleared to travel and compete in India — marking a significant sporting exchange between India and Pakistan amid strained relations.
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