Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025, India’s premier javelin competition, has officially been rescheduled to 5 July 2025. The event will take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, marking the first-ever World Athletics ‘A’ Category or Continental Tour Gold-level meet. 

The tournament was originally scheduled for 24 May 2025 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Panchkula, Haryana. The initial venue change was due to the issues with floodlights at the Panchkula stadium. However, the event was further postponed due to the cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan.

“Bringing the Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 back this quickly has taken an enormous collective effort, and we’re happy to confirm its return on July 5. Our teams have worked tirelessly, and the unwavering support from the Athletics Federation of India, the Karnataka Olympic Association, the Government of Karnataka, and our partners made this possible. The energy around this event is bigger than ever, and we’re set to deliver a celebration of javelin that’s bolder, better, and even more unforgettable,” said Karan Yadav, chief commercial officer, JSW Sports.

Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 is set to be the highlight event for Indian sports as the first World Athletics Gold Label event in the country. Neeraj Chopra, who recently won the Paris Diamond League 2025, is expected to be the star contender. However, the full line-up is also star-studded. Here’s the list of other confirmed international stars.

Neeraj Chopra Classic 2025 Lineup

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Arshad Nadeem, the celebrated Pakistani javelin thrower, has refused to come to India for the Neeraj Chopra Classic event scheduled for late May. The announcement came after the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, which further elevated the tensions between the two nations. Nadeem’s decision is seen as a response to security concerns and the overall atmosphere after the attack, even though he gave other reasons for declining the invitation.

He said, “The (NC) Classic event is from 20th May (May 24), whereas I am scheduled to leave for Korea on 22nd May for the Asian Athletics Championship. I have been training hard for the Asian Championship, which will be held in Gumi, Korea, from May 27 to 31.”

Just a few days back, Neeraj Chopra confirmed the invitation from Arshad Nadeem stating that, “I have sent invitation to Arshad and he said he will get back to me after discussing with his coach. As of now, he is yet to confirm participation.”

The decision’s sensitive timing has led many to believe that it’s related to the terror attack, reflecting the complexities athletes sometimes face beyond the sporting arena.

Who Is Arshad Nadeem?

Arshad Nadeem is the reigning Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion. His breakthrough moment was the gold in the Paris Olympics 2024 and the Commonwealth Games 2022, where he threw a record-breaking throw of 90.18 meters, making him the first South Asian to cross the 90m mark in javelin.

Both Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra have developed a well-known rivalry, especially after the Paris Olympics 2024, where Chopra was defeated by Nadeem. The presence of both athletes in the Neeraj Chopra Classic was a highly anticipated occurrence, however, it looks like fans will now have to wait for this legendary rivalry to face off again.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic is an international athletics meet held in India, focusing on the javelin throw. The tournament is designed to honour Neeraj Chopra and to promote the sport in the region. It’s scheduled to take place on May 24 in Bengaluru and will feature some of the world’s top javelin throwers.

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