• Neeraj Chopra faced backlash for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the NC Classic.
• Critics connected the invitation to a recent terrorist attack in Kashmir.
• Chopra emphasized his intention was purely to promote sports, not politics.
• Nadeem later declined the invitation due to prior commitments.

Neeraj Chopra, India’s Olympic javelin gold medallist, has responded to growing criticism for inviting Pakistani rival Arshad Nadeem to the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru. This invitation came before a recent deadly attack in Kashmir, which heightened tensions between the two countries. Chopra clarified that the goal of the event was to feature top athletes and elevate India's status in the global sports arena, stating, “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," according to Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.

Following the violent event in Kashmir, Chopra noted that many critics expressed their sentiments on social media, claiming, "There has been so much talk about my decision...most of it has been hate and abuse," he shared in a post. Although he extended the invitation to Nadeem, he acknowledged that it was now “completely out of the question” for the Pakistani athlete to attend, especially given the current geopolitical climate. Nadeem himself later opted not to attend due to scheduling conflicts with his training for the Asian Championships, according to Dawn and Dawn.

Chopra expressed his deep hurt over the backlash against him and his family, including media targeting his mother for her previous statements regarding Nadeem. He stated, "It pains me that I have to explain myself to people who are targeting me and my family, with no good reason," emphasizing that the invitation was made in the spirit of sportsmanship, “from one athlete to another - nothing more, nothing less," as noted by Indiatimes and Channel News Asia.