Neeraj Chopra on Arshad Nadeem invite: Hurts to see my integrity being questioned

Neeraj Chopra responded to criticism directed at him and his family following his invitation to Pakistan javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for next month’s Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru.

In the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack on Tuesday, the double Olympic medallist has come under fire on social media.

“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. They haven’t even left my family out of it,” Chopra said on his Instagram page.

READ | Arshad Nadeem opts out of Neeraj Chopra’s NC Classic javelin event

On Wednesday, Olympic gold medallist Arshad opted out of the NC Classic on May 24, citing scheduling conflicts.

Neeraj added, “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 for our country to be the home of world-class sporting events. Invites had gone out to all athletes on Monday, two days before the terrorist attacks at Pahalgam.

“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 that are going through the loss of their people, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Along with the entire nation, I am both hurt and angry at what has taken place.

“I have carried my 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 don’t 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 doesn’t make it true.”

Last year, after Arshad and Neeraj shared the podium in a 1-2 finish at the Paris Olympics, the latter’s mother, Saroj, brushed aside any disappointment over her son missing out on gold by claiming Arshad is “also our boy”.

“I also find it difficult to understand how people switch opinions. When my mother – in her simplicity – had made an innocent comment a year ago, there was an outpouring of praise for her views. Today, the same people haven’t held back from targeting her for that very same statement,” said Neeraj.