<p>Bengaluru: Even a decade ago, if someone had said that there would be an international javelin-only event with some of the best throwers in the world competing and thousands of spectators thronging the stadium to watch them perform here in India, not many would have believed in such a possibility. </p><p>On Saturday night, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, that “hopeless” optimism turned a reality. </p><p>Most of the credit for fulfilling this ambition, of course, will go to the ‘Golden boy’ Neeraj Chopra. After all, the two-time Olympic medallist and world champion javelin thrower has made it a habit to do the unthinkable. </p><p>After weeks of anticipation, it was time for the first-ever Neeraj Chopra Classic to get underway. It had 12 throwers, seven internationals and five Indians, who got three extra attempts each for the last eight men standing after the first three throws in an overcast, windy Bengaluru. </p>.Neeraj Chopra responds to fan's plea with all-expense paid trip for inaugural NC Classic. <p>And what the 14,573 crowd expected, Neeraj, the co-host of the event, delivered in style. The world No. 1 unleashed an 86.18-meter throw in his third attempt to win his inaugural competition. Kenya’s Julius Yego, with a season’s best throw of 84.51m, finished second while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, for his effort of 84.34m, took the third spot. </p><p>“There was too much head wind. But I’m very happy with my effort,” said the 27-year-old Neeraj at the post-event interview. </p><p>“I’m coming here after competing in two events, constant travel and being involved in organising this for a while now. But it has been a great experience to make athletics reach more people. I’m grateful and thank each one of you for turning out today,” offered Neeraj. </p><p>All eyes were on Neeraj who was the last in the line-up to take to the field. He began with a foul when his extra push to beat the gushing head wind threw him out of the throw line. Looking more conditioned to the dancing gust by the second throw, where he threw 82.99m, it was the third that did the job and sealed the gold for the home boy. </p><p><strong>Quick glance</strong></p><p>Exchanging a quick glance with his coach Jan Zelezny, who was sitting to his right, Neeraj let out a cry to pump himself up. With strides that looked stronger than the previous two, the recently-crowned Paris Diamond League winner released the javelin that he was immediately confident of. With the trajectory that remained flattish without the unwanted lob that the rest of the field were struggling with, Neeraj’s third throw landed at 86.18m which he celebrated with his customary raised hands. </p><p>The smiling 36-year-old Yego, on the other hand, appeared to be one of the first to have figured a formula to tackle tough conditions while 22-year-old Pathirage’s assured attitude helped them go back home with medals. </p><p>Neeraj, Yego and Pathirage took to the podium but the camaraderie and the exhibition of a sport rarely witnessed in this part of the world were equally enjoyable. </p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Neeraj Chopra (Ind, 86.18m), 1; Julius Yego (Ken, 84.51m), 2; Rumesh Pathirage (SL, 84.34m), 3. </p>
<p>Bengaluru: Even a decade ago, if someone had said that there would be an international javelin-only event with some of the best throwers in the world competing and thousands of spectators thronging the stadium to watch them perform here in India, not many would have believed in such a possibility. </p><p>On Saturday night, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, that “hopeless” optimism turned a reality. </p><p>Most of the credit for fulfilling this ambition, of course, will go to the ‘Golden boy’ Neeraj Chopra. After all, the two-time Olympic medallist and world champion javelin thrower has made it a habit to do the unthinkable. </p><p>After weeks of anticipation, it was time for the first-ever Neeraj Chopra Classic to get underway. It had 12 throwers, seven internationals and five Indians, who got three extra attempts each for the last eight men standing after the first three throws in an overcast, windy Bengaluru. </p>.Neeraj Chopra responds to fan's plea with all-expense paid trip for inaugural NC Classic. <p>And what the 14,573 crowd expected, Neeraj, the co-host of the event, delivered in style. The world No. 1 unleashed an 86.18-meter throw in his third attempt to win his inaugural competition. Kenya’s Julius Yego, with a season’s best throw of 84.51m, finished second while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage, for his effort of 84.34m, took the third spot. </p><p>“There was too much head wind. But I’m very happy with my effort,” said the 27-year-old Neeraj at the post-event interview. </p><p>“I’m coming here after competing in two events, constant travel and being involved in organising this for a while now. But it has been a great experience to make athletics reach more people. I’m grateful and thank each one of you for turning out today,” offered Neeraj. </p><p>All eyes were on Neeraj who was the last in the line-up to take to the field. He began with a foul when his extra push to beat the gushing head wind threw him out of the throw line. Looking more conditioned to the dancing gust by the second throw, where he threw 82.99m, it was the third that did the job and sealed the gold for the home boy. </p><p><strong>Quick glance</strong></p><p>Exchanging a quick glance with his coach Jan Zelezny, who was sitting to his right, Neeraj let out a cry to pump himself up. With strides that looked stronger than the previous two, the recently-crowned Paris Diamond League winner released the javelin that he was immediately confident of. With the trajectory that remained flattish without the unwanted lob that the rest of the field were struggling with, Neeraj’s third throw landed at 86.18m which he celebrated with his customary raised hands. </p><p>The smiling 36-year-old Yego, on the other hand, appeared to be one of the first to have figured a formula to tackle tough conditions while 22-year-old Pathirage’s assured attitude helped them go back home with medals. </p><p>Neeraj, Yego and Pathirage took to the podium but the camaraderie and the exhibition of a sport rarely witnessed in this part of the world were equally enjoyable. </p><p><strong>Results</strong>: Neeraj Chopra (Ind, 86.18m), 1; Julius Yego (Ken, 84.51m), 2; Rumesh Pathirage (SL, 84.34m), 3. </p>