To perform as a top-level athlete is hard enough. To double up as the tournament organiser is a whole new challenge.
All things considered, Neeraj Chopra passed this stern test. The Neeraj Chopra Classic, where the 27-year-old acted as the host alongside JSW, went off without a hitch.
Busy turnstiles
The Sree Kanteerava Stadium wore a festive look with 14,593 enthusiastic spectators — an impressive number normally reserved for high-profile Bengaluru FC football outings.
Neeraj the athlete came into his own when the action commenced. After a foul throw on the first attempt, he struck gold on the third throw with a 86.18m heave. With the fan favourite claiming the title, the event followed the perfect script.
There was, however, some disappointment that the distances recorded were well short of elite marks. The heavy winds no doubt made this a real challenge — a factor acknowledged by Neeraj and his rivals.
The tournament could have done with a little more publicity and buzz, with many Bengalureans unaware that a world-class javelin field had assembled in their city.
While this is perhaps a point to note when planning for the next edition of the NC Classic, a relieved Neeraj was happy that the event was completed successfully.
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“I didn’t expect such a good crowd in the first edition. We had so much support. I thank World Athletics for giving us a Continental Tour Gold event. It’s a big thing for our country. I hope we bring more competitions like this in the future,” Neeraj said.
“The State government, Athletics Federation of India, World Athletics, JSW, sponsors — everyone supported me. We all worked together like a team. I’m thrilled.”
The big picture — to inspire young children to take up the sport of javelin — was fulfilled. The stands were filled with eager teenagers, accompanied by young adults who also harboured grand dreams of emulating the two-time Olympic medallist.
When Neeraj entered the Sree Kanteerava Stadium to fireworks, the noise was deafening. The massive outpouring of love made him emotional. “I felt so good that athletics is getting so much support. This is exactly what we wanted — people should watch track and field,” he said.
“Athletes work so hard, and it’s all behind the curtains. Track and field is one of the hardest sports. All we want is for people to come and watch us perform. And when parents feel there is something to achieve in athletics, only then will they encourage their kids in track and field.”
Brushing shoulders with the elite: The NC Classic offered Indian throwers such as Sachin Yadav (right) the opportunity to take on world class talent, including Julius Yego, Thomas Rohler and Neeraj himself.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K
Neeraj gave an insight into his role as an organiser-cum-athlete. “I was always thinking about the athletes and their friends. One day, at our hotel, I had to eat spicy food. I said, ‘This spicy food is okay for me, but it will be too much for them [foreign competitors]’. So I changed the food menu at the hotel,” Neeraj laughed and said.
Juggling duties
Neeraj admitted that juggling host and athlete duties took a toll on his training and preparation. “Being a pure athlete is difficult when you are an organiser. Being an athlete, you have to eat well three times a day, rest well, train. These things are tough to manage when you are also organising the event. But I did have help from the AFI and JSW team, so I did not have too much work to do. They managed mostly on their own,” Neeraj said.
“It was a new experience. When I am no longer an athlete, then maybe I can become a good tournament organiser.”
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The stress carried over to the field as well. “When we were entering the arena, there was a delay. If I was just an athlete, then a delay would not have bothered me. But in this case, I was worried. In between throws, I also checked in with the referees to ask if everything was going well.
“The mini car, which carried the javelin sticks to the athletes, was moving slowly. The competitors wanted it to be faster, so they could throw quickly. So I told them to walk up and pick up the sticks with their hands instead. Yes, I was noting all these small things,” Neeraj said.
The decision to stage the tournament in Bengaluru came through unusual circumstances. The NC Classic was scheduled to be held in Panchkula on May 24, but floodlight issues at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium forced a shift to Bengaluru.
The India-Pakistan cross-border tensions then prompted a postponement. All the uncertainty notwithstanding, Neeraj was satisfied that the showpiece was conducted in Bengaluru, a city he is quite familiar with.
“I used to come to Bengaluru to watch Bengaluru FC games. I have also trained in Bengaluru in the past. The people of Bengaluru enjoyed the night. I was here to showcase my passion for javelin throw. I was worried whether people would come to the stadium, but there was a lot of support,” he said.
Outpouring of love: The fans’ reception at Bengaluru made Neeraj emotional. ‘I felt so good that athletics is getting so much support,’ he said. ‘This is exactly what we wanted.’
| Photo Credit:
AFP
Neeraj’s winning throw was nowhere near his personal best of 90.23m, but on a night affected by strong winds, it was enough to get the job done.
Apart from the stiff breeze, Neeraj had to fight a bout of nerves as well. “Mentally, it was very tough for me, because so many people came to support me. I was a little scared, especially since the tournament was in my name. I talked to my coach [world record holder Jan Zelezny], who told me to stay relaxed. My friend [and rival] Julius Yego also told me to be calm and throw far,” Neeraj said.
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“There was also a lot of wind — both headwind and crosswind. It was a little strange. I had technical problems and messed up in the beginning. On my fifth throw, when I recorded 84.07m, I actually thought it would reach 87 to 88m. But the wind was blowing from the front, which made things difficult.”
Platforming Indians
The occasion allowed four other Indians — Sachin Yadav, Yash Vir Singh, Sahil Silwal and Rohit Yadav — to take on the world’s best. Sachin Yadav (82.33m) did the best among the lot — a commendable performance given that he was carrying an ankle injury.
“Our big target was to lift Indian athletes and get them on par with international stars. We are already doing well in javelin. We have 80m-plus throwers. They got the chance to learn from Olympic and world champions,” Neeraj said.
As and when he gets the chance to soak it all in, Neeraj will be a satisfied man. Not too long ago, the thought of conducting a standalone javelin event would have been brushed off as a joke. The NC Classic has proved that Indian track and field has the potential to enter the mainstream.
