Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra has issued a heartfelt statement in response to public backlash and questions about his patriotism after inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru.
The criticism emerged following the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives. Although Neeraj clarified that the invite to Arshad—a fellow Olympic medalist—was sent before the attack, he confirmed that Arshad will no longer participate in the event scheduled for May 24.
Neeraj expressed dismay over the abuse and hate directed not just at him, but at his family. “I am usually a man of few words, but that doesn’t mean I won’t speak up when my love for the country or my family’s respect is questioned,” he said.
He explained that the invitation to Arshad was purely professional: “The aim of the NC Classic was to bring world-class talent to India and showcase our sporting spirit. The invites were sent two days before the terror attack.”
In a firm message to his critics, Neeraj stated, “My country and its interests will always come first.” He extended condolences to the families of the victims and said he was confident that justice would be delivered.
Addressing false narratives, Neeraj said it deeply hurt him to see his integrity being doubted after years of carrying the Indian flag with pride. He also called out the hypocrisy of those who once applauded his mother’s statement that Arshad was “also her son,” but are now using it against them.
“I’ll continue working hard so that the world respects and admires India for the right reasons,” Neeraj concluded.
His statement is now being widely circulated across social media, with many fellow athletes and fans coming out in his support.
