Bengaluru, April 25, 2025: India’s Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra has responded to growing criticism over his invitation to Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem to participate in the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled for May 22 in Bengaluru.
The controversy erupted following a tragic incident in Kashmir, which led Chopra to distance himself from the invitation, sparking accusations of political appeasement and undermining sporting values.
In a detailed social media post on Friday, the 27-year-old athlete clarified that the invitation to Nadeem was extended well before the incident and was intended purely as a gesture of sporting camaraderie.
“The invitation was simply one athlete inviting another, nothing more. We were inviting the best javelin throwers for the NC Classic,” Chopra stated.
Arshad Nadeem, who won gold for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games and shares a longstanding on-field rivalry with Chopra, had already declined the invitation, citing scheduling conflicts as he prepares for the Asian Athletics Championship.
Chopra dismissed suggestions that the invite had any political motivations, insisting it was made in the spirit of athletics and unity. Addressing the backlash, he emphasized his right to speak out against misinformation.
“I am someone who stands by my words, but that does not mean I will stay silent when something is wrong,” he asserted.
While distancing himself from the controversy, Chopra expressed disappointment at the negative reactions to what he described as a simple act of sportsmanship.
“Much has been said about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem… a lot of wrong things and hatred have been expressed,” he said.
The Neeraj Chopra Classic is expected to feature several top international javelin throwers, serving as a key tune-up event ahead of the global athletics calendar. Despite the diplomatic strain between India and Pakistan, the incident has reignited a broader debate on whether sports should rise above politics, or remain sensitive to national sentiment.
