Neeraj Chopra says India must host global athletics competitions within two-three years

Neeraj Chopra, Olympic champion javelin thrower, wants India to host global athletics events to boost the sport's popularity.

He has single-handedly raised the profile of Indian athletics internationally and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra now wants the country to go a notch higher in the pecking order by hosting global events in the next two-three years.

India is set to bid for the 2029 World Athletics Championships but Chopra said the country can host other global competitions of smaller scale before that.

"It will be good if we host 2029 World Championships but 2029 is a long way to go. I think India can host some big global competitions like Continental Tour event (of World Athletics) before that," Chopra told PTI in an interview felicitated by Switzerland Tourism.

"This kind of global event (like Continental Tour event) will keep Indian fans interested in athletics. If international track and field stars come to India and compete against Indian athletes, it will be good for the country's athletes as well as for the fans," he opined.

Continental Tour is an annual series of track and field competitions held under the aegis of World Athletics. It forms the second tier of international one-day meetings after the Diamond League.

The reigning world champion said holding global events in India will also create awareness among fans. He also said that live telecast or streaming of global events like Diamond League Meetings, especially where Indian athletes are competing, should be easily available for Indian fans.

Chopra, who is targetting a successful defence of his Olympic gold in Paris Games this year, said he will start competing in May. That means, his pre-Olympic competition schedule will be of two months or a little over that. The Paris Games begin on July 26.