Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra has issued a clarification regarding his invitation to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic, stating that the invite was sent prior to the Pahalgam terror attack. The event, originally scheduled in Panchkula, has now been shifted to Bengaluru and will take place on May 24.
Neeraj, a two-time Olympic medallist, took to social media to respond to the backlash he and his family have faced following the revelation that Arshad Nadeem was among the invited athletes. “The invitation I extended to Arshad Nadeem was from one athlete to another — nothing more, nothing less,” Neeraj wrote, adding that his family was subjected to hate and abuse following the announcement.
The terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, claimed 26 civilian lives, drastically shifting the public and diplomatic tone between India and Pakistan. In light of these events, Neeraj confirmed that Arshad’s participation was no longer being considered.
“The aim of the NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and for our country to be the home of world-class sporting events. Invites had gone out to all athletes on Monday, two days before the terrorist attacks at Pahalgam. After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad’s presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question,” he clarified.
An official list released by event organisers last night confirmed that Arshad Nadeem’s name was not included among the participants.
The development comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, with the Indian government downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling Pakistani military attachés.
