President William Ruto has praised veteran javelin thrower Julius Yego for his outstanding performance at the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic held on Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
Yego, the 2015 World Champion and Olympic silver medallist, claimed second place with a season-best throw of 84.51 meters, achieved on his fourth attempt. The competition was won by Indian world champion Neeraj Chopra, who delighted the home crowd with an 86.18-meter throw, while Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage came third with 84.34 meters.
President Ruto took to social media platform X to commend Yego, calling his performance an inspiration to young Kenyan athletes. “Your determination to succeed is a powerful inspiration to our young athletes, encouraging them to pursue their dreams with focus, discipline and self-belief. Well done,” the president wrote.
Yego’s stellar display in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone in his bid to return to top form ahead of the 2025 World Championships scheduled for September in Tokyo. His recent resurgence began with a win at the Athletics Kenya National Championships on June 27, where he registered a 79.27-meter throw.
Now 36, Yego, famously nicknamed the “YouTube Man” for learning javelin techniques online in his early years, is defying age and expectations as he seeks a return to global prominence nearly a decade after his world title in Beijing.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic, named after India’s Olympic gold medallist and national icon, drew an elite lineup including Germany’s 2016 Olympic champion Thomas Röhler, Poland’s Cyprian Mrzyglod, American Curtis Thompson, and Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva, showcasing the event’s international prestige.
Yego’s next major test will come at the Paris Diamond League on June 20, as he continues to fine-tune his form ahead of the Tokyo showdown. With this recent podium finish, Yego has proven he remains a formidable force in global javelin circles and a beacon of resilience for aspiring athletes in Kenya.
