Before the big boys of men’s javelin got down to business, a carnival-like atmosphere engulfed the Kanteerava Stadium. A makeover aimed at making athletics spectator-friendly played out for an hour before the NC Classic began at 7.30 pm.
This has been seen before, the razzmatazz pops up at IPL opening ceremonies or at curtain-raisers of National Games, but stadium-centric track-and-field competitions in the country have generally been treated as poorer cousins, despite the success of golden boy Neeraj Chopra.
World record holder and Neeraj Chopra’s coach Jan Zelezny casually strolled on the Kanteerava Stadium track like he was going for an evening walk. One of the most famous athletes in the world was pleasantly surprised by the applause he got when the stadium announcer took his name. The stand right behind the runway was packed, with the loudest fans waving red flags, banging inflatable noise-makers handed to them at the entry gates. Generally having a good time and willing to shout themselves hoarse at the drop of a hat or the flight of a javelin in a warm-up throw on a windy but pleasant Bengaluru evening.
Not just a meet — it’s a celebration.
The stadium bay is alive with culture, colour, and crowd.#NeerajChopraClassic #GameOfThrows pic.twitter.com/UxQOw6fggW— Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) July 5, 2025
When Neeraj joined Zelezny in the middle for a quick discussion, there was a crescendo of cheers.
Laser lights flashed, foot thumping music played and an all-female dance group performed. The turf, where Bengaluru FC play their home matches, was an immaculate patch of green hemmed in by LED display boards. Haryana rapper Dhanda Nyoliwala brought the house down when he announced the names of the throwers between two numbers and followed that by cheekily producing a shadow-practice throw.
As the evening progressed, the fans got louder. Some of them were special invitees.
One of the fans at the stadium was Ranjith Ravichandran from Coimbatore, who struck gold literally when Neeraj responded to his post on X asking ‘anyone to sponsor Rs 2,000’ so he could watch the NC Classic. Neeraj promised to sponsor his trip with full VVIP experience.
On Saturday morning, the day after he turned 30, Ranjith, a staffer at an educational institution, was left star struck when he bumped into Neeraj at the official hotel.
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“I was overwhelmed and wished him all the best. I told him India was lucky to have an athlete like him. He enquired about me and if everything was fine and also wished me all the best,” Ranjith, who is pursuing a Masters in data science from Bits Pilani, said.
Ranjith had a personal setback last year, when his father Ravichandra passed away after a long illness. His younger sister Maheshwari is preparing for bank examinations. A former distance runner, he had participated at the district level in the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres while in college.
“I was on a tight budget in June that’s why I posted on X about wanting Rs 2,000. I could not afford it at that time otherwise I would have never posted,” Ranjith said.
The warm-up 🔥 has begun.
Muscles primed. Minds focused.
📺 Watch it live on JioHotstar & StarSports.#NeerajChopraClassic #GameOfThrows pic.twitter.com/JegSQc0GWm
— Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) July 5, 2025
When Neeraj replied, Ranjith was in disbelief. He wondered if it was a fake account. However, when Neeraj’s team at JSW Sports got in touch, he realised he wasn’t the target of a con. “I saw it (Neeraj’s post) but couldn’t believe it and was unsure if it was the real Neeraj Chopra. Today as I am entering the stadium, I can’t believe it has really happened.”
Catching the imagination
Ranjith was one of the lucky ones watching from a privileged spot but the thousands that streamed in (about 10,000 paid tickets were up for sale) watched from bucket seats. The older ones were replaced for the NC Classic, say organisers.
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Outside, the usual suspects at cricket matches were spotted; face-painters charging Rs 20 for a Tricolour on the cheeks. Some things were left for the last minute, like it happens in these parts of the world. A group of workers were carrying the wooden podium without the vinyl covering, taking breaks to catch their breath, a couple of hours before the start.
By the time each athlete walked over a red carpet between two lines of giant sparklers with a child in tow, football-style, the atmosphere was electric. Thomas Rohler, the 2016 Olympic champion, high-fived each of the kids in a light-hearted fun moment. Some of the best in the world were in Bengaluru to compete but also wanted to have fun at the NC Classic.
Neeraj was next. Chants of ‘Neeraj’, ‘Neeraj’, ‘Neeraj’ sounded like the famous one that resounded across cricket stadiums in India in the 90s and noughties when another superstar walked out.
