Neeraj Chopra responded to the criticism he faced for inviting Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem to the NC Classic, set to be held in Bengaluru on May 24.

Neeraj, as the organiser of the World Athletics A-level event in India, held the responsibility of inviting top javelin throwers from across the world. With Arshad Nadeem being the reigning Olympic champion, Neeraj invited him to the event, a first-of-its-kind elite international athletics event in India.

However, in light of the deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam that left 26 Indians - 25 tourists and a local - dead, Neeraj faced backlash from netizens, with many even questioning his patriotism.

Hurt by the hate and abuses, the Olympic gold and silver medal-winning javelin thrower took to social media to counter those who questioned his integrity.

"I am usually a man of few words, but that does not mean I will not speak up against what I think is wrong. More so, when it comes to questioning my love for our country, and the respect and honour of my family," Neeraj wrote in a statement on X.

"There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and most of it has been hate and abuse," Neeraj added.

Explaining his position and idea behind inviting Arshad, Neeraj said, "They have not even left my family out of it. Invitation extended to Arshad was from one athlete to another - nothing more, nothing less. The aim of NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and for our country to be home of world class sporting events. Invites had gone out to all the athletes on Monday, two days before the terrorist attack in Pahalgam," Neeraj, who became India's only Olympic and World Championships gold medallist in 2021 and 2023, wrote further.

"After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours, Arshad's presence at the NC Classic was completely out of question. My country and its interest will always come first," the javelin thrower emphasised.

"To those that are going through the loss of their people, my thoughts and prayer with you. Along with the entire nation, I am both hurt angry at what has taken place. I am confident that our country's response will show our strength as a nation and justice will be served," he wrote further.

'It Pains Me That I Have To Explain Myself To People'

The 27-year-old did not hide his emotion as people questioned his patriotism for India.

"I am carried by country with pride for so many years now, and so it hurts to see my integrity being questioned. It pains me that I have to explain myself to people who are targeting me and my family with no good reason. We are simple people, please do not make us out to be anything else. There are so many false narratives that certain sections of the media have created around me, but just because I do not speak up, it does not mean it is true," Neeraj lashed out at the hatemongers.

"I also find it difficult to understand how people switch opinions. When my mother — in her simplicity — made an innocent comment a year ago, there was an outpouring of praise for her views. Today, the same people have not held back from targeting her for that very same statement," he wrote, referring to how people had celebrated when Neeraj's mother, Saroj Devi, had called Arshad "like our child" after he became Pakistan's first Olympic gold medallist in Paris, while Neeraj had settled for silver.

Neeraj is the joint organiser of the event along with JSW. The event is backed by Athletics Federation of India and World Athletics.

Arshad Nadeem, meanwhile, said he was obliged to receive the invitation from Neeraj but would not be able to participate as the NC Classic clashes with his training for the Asian Athletics Championships, scheduled for May 27-31 in Gumi, South Korea. At the same time, the Indian government has imposed a ban on the entry of Pakistani nationals to India following the terrorist attack.

Top javelin throwers like Anderson Peters, Thomas Rohler and Julius Yego have confirmed their participation at the NC Classic along with Curtis Thompson, Genki Dean, Luiz Mauricio da Silva, Rumesh Pathirage.

Although the AFI has not yet revealed the list of Indian throwers for the event, Neeraj has himself confirmed that he would compete at the event.

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