Neeraj Chopra pained by vile remarks on his family for inviting Pakistani athlete

New Delhi: Indian ace athlete Neeraj Chopra has clarified that the invitation extended to Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw event in Bengaluru was sent before the tragic incidents in Kashmir.

Referring to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives and injured several others, Neeraj stated that Arshad’s participation in the event was “completely out of the question”.

In a statement, the Olympic gold medallist said the 'invitation I extended to Arshad was from one athlete to another—nothing more, nothing less'. "The aim of the NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and make our country a hub for world-class sporting events. Invitations had gone out to all athletes on Monday, two days before the terrorist attacks in Pahalgam,'' he said in a statement on X.

“After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad’s presence at the NC Classic was completely out of the question. My country and its interests will always come first. To those grieving the loss of their loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

“Along with the entire nation, I am both hurt and angry at what has taken place. I am confident that our country’s response will reflect our strength and justice will be served,” he wrote.

Neeraj also voiced his dismay over the backlash he and his family have faced since the attack. “It hurts to see my integrity being doubted after carrying the nation’s pride for so long,” he said. “It is upsetting that I have to justify myself to those unfairly targeting me and my family. We are simple people—please don’t portray us otherwise.”

He further criticised sections of the media for circulating “false narratives” about him, emphasising that his silence should not be mistaken for acceptance. Neeraj also pointed to the inconsistency in public reactions, noting that the people who once praised his mother for a past remark are now criticising her for it.

“I will continue to work harder to ensure India is remembered and admired by the world for all the right reasons,” he said.
Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday, Pakistan’s Olympic medallist Arshad Nadeem confirmed that he would not participate in the event.