Can NC Classic be the game changer Indian athletics needs for the future?

Champion throwers come calling

- Avishek Roy

Neeraj Chopra conquered the javelin world with his remarkable performances but the idea of giving back to Indian athletics beyond the pursuit of personal glory took root gradually.

That vision was shaped by the lessons and experiences he had gathered on international stage. On the eve of the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, he felt a deep sense of fulfilment.

Few understand better than him the importance of hosting a World Athletics Gold-level meet in India. It holds the potential to be a gamechanger. Indian throwers can compete and learn from the best in the world, fans can witness world-class athletics and a cricket-obsessed nation can discover the thrill of an Olympic sport.

"I never dreamt about it," said Neeraj. "I wanted to represent the country and win medals at the international stage. This is bringing a kind of peace in my mind I cannot explain. Winning a medal is different, this is a feeling of giving back to Indian athletics. Somewhere I feel this is a start to uplift the sport in India," said Neeraj.

NC Classic is India’s first top-tier World Athletics (WA) competition in track and field and brings home some big names of javelin world: 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Rohler, 2015 world champion Julius Yego, season's third-best USA's Curtis Thompson.