The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Championship on April 25, Friday, but double Olympic-medalist Neeraj Chopra's name was not part of the list.
The final squad was announced following the conclusion of the Federation Cup Senior Athletics Meet in Kochi. The event acted as a qualifying trial for selection in the Asian Championships set to be held from May 27 to 31 in Gumi, South Korea.
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Chopra's absence has led to speculation, especially after he started his 2025 season with a gold medal win at the Potchefstroom Invitational in South Africa, where he finished first with an 84.52m throw.
The Sporting News tells you all the reasons for the Tokyo Olympic javelin throw gold-medalist's absence from the continental meet and his upcoming schedule for 2025.
Explained: Why Neeraj Chopra is not part of Indian squad for Asian Athletics Championship 2025
Chopra will not take part in the Asian Athletics Championship as it clashes with the NC Classic that is scheduled to take place on May 24, 2025 in Bengaluru.
With only a three-day gap between the two events, he has opted to skip the continental meet.
Moreover, he has previously battled with a groin injury which had also affected his performances in last year's Olympics. Chopra has acknowledged that he will need to manage his schedule to avoid recurring injuries.
During the Paris games, he won the silver medal, losing the gold to Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem. Later during the Diamond League final, he fractured his left hand.
Therefore, it is likely that he will take part in only selected meets this year. Indian javelin's golden boy is expected to next feature in the Doha Diamond League, which begins on May 16 in Qatar.
What is NC Classic 2025?
The NC Classic is named after the Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra. The International Javelin Meet has also been recognised by World Athletics and aims to promote sporting culture in the country.
The inaugural edition of the event was set to take place at Panchkula initially. However, it has now been shifted to the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru and will take place on May 24.
It will be organized in association with JSW Sports, who also own sports teams such as Bengaluru FC (in ISL) and Delhi Capitals (in IPL)
List of international javelin throw athletes who will take part in the NC Classic 2025
The NC Classic 2025 is set to feature star-studded international athletes from around the world. Chopra himself will arrive to take part in the event following the conclusion of the Doha Diamond League.
Here is the complete list of confirmed international athletes set to take part in NC Classic, as of April 25:
| Athlete | Country | Best Throw (in metres) |
|---|---|---|
| Neeraj Chopra | India | 89.94m |
| Anderson Peters | Grenada | 93.07m |
| Thomas Rohler | Germany | 93.90m |
| Julius Yego | Kenya | 92.72m |
| Curtis Thompson | USA | 87.76m |
| Genki Dean | Japan | 84.28m |
| Luiz Mauricio da Silva | Brazil | 85.91m |
| Rumesh Pathirage | Sri Lanka | 85.45m |
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