The event has been christened as the Neeraj Chopra Classic as the Indian star is actively involved in its organisation
Neeraj Chopra. Pic/AFP
The much-anticipated, star-studded global javelin event in India, featuring double Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra competing against some of the best in the business, will be held in Panchkula on May 24. The event has been christened as the Neeraj Chopra Classic as the Indian star is actively involved in its organisation.
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World Athletics, the sport's governing body, has granted a category A status to the event which will be held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium. World Athletics website, however, does not list the event as part of its Continental Tour for which the calendar was published before the start of the season. Earlier in January, World Athletics President Sebastian Coe had endorsed the event, saying it will help showcase India's ability to host top-level competitions.
Chopra is in the event's organising committee. Along with JSW Sports and Athletics Federation of India (AFI), he has been instrumental in getting the competition to the country. Chopra and JSW Sports are keen to make the event an annual fixture in the World Athletics calendar "with an eye on adding more track and field disciplines to the meet". AFI President Bahadur Singh Sagoo said that the event will raise the country's athletics profile.
"The event is being held at the same place where Neeraj had spent most of his junior camp. He must be wanting the event to be held in his home state. Hosting the event in the country with Neeraj's involvement is the best thing for Indian athletics," Sagoo told PTI. The 27-year-old Chopra, who hails from Khandra village near Panipat in Haryana, trained at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula from 2012 to 2015.
He was shifted to national camp at NIS Patiala towards the end of 2015 despite finishing fifth at the National Games in Kerala, as current chief coach Radhakrishnan Nair saw his gymnast-like flexible body and fast hand speed. Chopra, who recently roped in legendary javelin thrower Jan Zelezny as his coach, is expected to start his season at the Doha Diamond League Meeting on May 16. The event in Panchkula will be his second competition of the season.
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