Germany’s 2016 Olympic javelin champion Thomas Röhler expressed his admiration for India’s growing enthusiasm for javelin throw after participating in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic, held at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Despite not delivering his best performance—finishing 11th overall—Röhler said he was amazed by the crowd support, calling it a “unique spectacle.” The event saw a remarkable turnout, with nearly 15,000 spectators attending, a rare sight for a single-discipline field event.
“15,000 people only for javelin. It’s unique, to be honest, I’ve never seen it,” Röhler said in an exclusive interaction with India Today.
The competition was held under challenging weather conditions, with strong and shifting winds posing difficulties for athletes. Röhler explained how the wind affected each throw, making it a highly unpredictable contest.
“It was changing winds, not only in the rows, but also in the single attempts. Athletes had to adjust every single time. It wasn’t predictable—you saw javelins start well, and then dip suddenly. Picking the right javelin and angle was key,” he said, describing the event as both challenging and fun.
India’s Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra, who hosted the competition, clinched the top spot with a strong throw of 86.18 meters, mastering the difficult conditions. Röhler praised Neeraj not just for his performance, but also for his role as a host.
“He did a really good job. He looked after us, ensured hospitality was top-notch, checked on everyone’s well-being, food, logistics—he really invested energy and time. That’s not something you see often from an athlete,” Röhler added.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic marks a significant step in India’s efforts to promote field events, particularly javelin throw, and Saturday’s turnout is a strong testament to its growing popularity.
