When the host of Friday’s press conference for the Neeraj Chopra Classic addressed the large media contingent in Bengaluru, he made a cheeky remark: “At last, there will be no questions about 90m to Neeraj, I believe.” It was a reference to Neeraj finally getting the monkey off his back earlier this year, recording his first-ever 90m throw at the Doha Diamond League: a magical 90.23m, ending one of the longest-running chases in world athletics.

But even if no one said it out loud, at least a few in the room were surely thinking: “Neeraj, will we see another 90m – this time, at home?” The press conference largely focused on the significance of the Neeraj Chopra Classic, India’s first-ever top-tier international javelin event, organised by the Olympic and world champion himself. Neeraj was joined on the dais by fellow Olympic medallists Thomas Rhler and Julius Yego, along with young Sachin Yadav, touted as the next big hope in Indian javelin.

The NC Classic is already shaping up to be a landmark event – not just for Indian athletics, but for the global javelin community. It signals a shift from a Europe-centric tradition to a broader international expansion. “I feel like I’m in a dream,” Neeraj said, reflecting on the occasion’s significance.

The mood in the room echoed that sentiment. Rhler, the 2016 Olympic champion from Germany, spoke passionately about the responsibility senior athletes have to give back and help discover new talent in emerging countries. Yego, the 2015 world champion, said he didn’t hesitate to accept Neeraj’s invitation, highlighting the similarities between their journeys: his rise in long-distance obsessed Kenya, and Neeraj’s emergence from cricket-mad India, both breaking the mould in their respective nations.

As for Sachin, one of four young Indians in the 12-man field, the atmosphere was surreal. Sharing the stage with three Olympic medallists, he looked both star-struck and excited about the opportunity to compete in a meet that is expected to become an annual fixture on the World Athletics calendar.

Neeraj now finds himself wearing a new hat – that of an organiser. It’s been a hectic week for him, filled with meetings with political leaders, sponsors and sports administrators, all geared towards making the Neeraj Chopra Classic a success story and a long-standing legacy.

NEERAJ SPECIAL IN BENGALURU?

But while the athlete in him has been juggling duties, he remains serious about his own competition on Saturday. The Bengaluru meet at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium will be his sixth of the year in what has already been a packed 2025 season. In June alone, Neeraj featured in two events, with everything building towards the World Championships in Tokyo this September.

“The athlete in me is always up for the competition,” he said. “That’s why I’m trying to manage everything. My team is also handling a lot, but I’m training hard. After doing everything, I train. I did throw sessions too – so yes, I’ve got the mindset for this competition.”

Even on Friday evening, Neeraj made time for a long session at the venue after his media duties were done. Under the watchful eye of legendary coach Jan elezn, he sent the javelin soaring into the dusky Bengaluru sky.

So, the big question again: Can Neeraj throw 90 metres?

Given his busy schedule and reduced training time in the lead-up to the NC Classic, it may not happen in Bengaluru — but make no mistake, he’ll be going all out.

Speaking to IndiaToday.in, Julius Yego suggested that Bengaluru’s weather — mild and breezy — could actually be conducive to big throws.

Still, it’s worth reiterating that the 90m question, while enticing, can be problematic. The pressure to hit that mark — and then to repeat it — is immense.

Ever since Neeraj stunned the world with an 86.48m throw as a teenager at the U20 World Championships in 2016, that 90m question has followed him. The noise only grew louder when Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem hurled 92.97m in the Paris Olympics final, setting a new Olympic record. Neeraj gave it everything that day and still walked away with 89.45m and silver. He finally breached the mark in May this year.

But a 90m throw is a rarity — it’s like a triple hundred in cricket.

“Any 90m throw has a huge impact on the body. Once you have thrown 90m, the next thing you have to do is rest because the impact is very high,” Thomas Rohler, the owner of seven-plus 90m throws said on Friday.

“Those watching need to understand that we have one ton of weight impact on the block foot, which is the weight of a small car. This is javelin throw. This is not yoga. It’s really tough.

“This is the impact and we have to train for impact and technique. Doing it again and again is a mental challenge and it’s about dealing with the pressure from the outside. And as soon as you have thrown 90m, we all mess up with expectations.

“Look at 2012, the Olympic gold was won by throwing 84m. Now people expect you to throw 90m. If you don’t, people ask you ‘was it a bad day?’. We need to see the percentage of people who throw over 90m: it’s very small.”

HOW RARE IS A 90M THROW?

Statistically, 90m throws are exceptional. According to World Athletics data, among the top 8001 men’s javelin distances since the 1986 redesign, only 129 have gone beyond 90m — that’s just 1.61%.

• Total throws recorded: 8001
• Throws over 90m: 129
• Percentage: 1.61%
• elezn’s 90m+ throws: 34 (all-time leader)
• Rhler’s 90m+ throws: 7
• Neeraj’s 90m+ throws: 1 (Doha, 2025)

It brings us to a key piece of history. In 1984, East Germany’s Uwe Hohn threw an absurd 104.86m — a mark that created panic in the sport. Two years later, in April 1986, the men’s javelin was redesigned to bring distances down. The centre of gravity was shifted forward by 4cm, the tip was made blunter, and the tail section was adjusted to increase drag. These changes reduced throws by roughly 10% on average and brought the sport back under control. Jan elezn’s 98.48m in 1996 remains the world record with the redesigned javelin.

“The main reason the Technical Committee decided to change the rules for javelin construction was because of the increasingly frequent flat landings and the resulting discussions and protests because of attempts declared valid or invalid by competition judges,” according to World Athletics.

Rohler called them “magical” for a reason. “We should appreciate every one of those moments. There are very few chances in life to achieve it or to witness it,” he said.

Back to today. Neeraj’s best on Indian soil is 88.07m, achieved in Patiala in 2021. Can he go further in Bengaluru?

With the Bengaluru crowd behind him and the energy of a meet built in his name, there’s every reason to hope. Could the home crowd egg Neeraj on to double his count of the 90m biggie?

If he does, if the Sree Kanteerava crowd witnesses a 90m throw on Saturday, it will be a moment for the ages. A perfect cherry on top of an already historic occasion.

– Ends