The Indian javelin star and two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra addressed the recent controversy surrounding his invitation to Pakistani thrower Arshad Nadeem for the Neeraj Chopra Classic, a javelin competition scheduled for Bengaluru later this month.

Neeraj made a big remark about his relationship with Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem and said they never had a strong relationship. He went on to add that things won't be the same between them now.

“Firstly I want to clarify that we never had a very strong relationship. But if somebody talks to me respectfully, I always like to talk to them the same way. But things won’t be the same after this,” said Neeraj while speaking at a press conference ahead of the Diamond League event in Doha.

Neeraj had invited the Pakistan thrower to the first-ever Neeraj Chopra Classic, a javelin competition that will take place in Bengaluru on May 24. Neeraj and Nadeem have been competing together at international events since 2016.

Due to increased tensions between India and Pakistan, the meeting that was originally planned to take place at the Kanteerava Stadium was postponed till further notice. Some Indian social media users had criticized the invitation to Arshad, questioning the gesture's timing and appearance. Citing safety and other concerns, the NC Classic organizers confirmed the postponement in a statement:

"The decision has been made after careful thought and consultation, with the well-being of athletes, stakeholders, and the broader community as the top priority."

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