Neeraj Chopra clarifies stance: “India comes first,” withdraws Arshad Nadeem invite amid backlash

"Given everything that has unfolded over the past 48 hours regarding the invitation extended to Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on May 24, his participation is now completely ruled out. For me, my country and its interests will always take top priority," 27-year-old Neeraj Chopra said in a statement.

Hyderabad: Former Olympic and World champion in javelin, Neeraj Chopra, asserted that for him his country (India) and its interests will always come first.

“After all that has taken place over the last 48 hours (after all the talk about his decision to invite Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem for the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru on May 24), Arshad’s presence in the NC Classic was completely out of the question. My country and its interests will always come first,” the 27-year-old Neeraj said in a statement .

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“I am usually a man of few words, but that doesn’t 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,” he said.

“There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic (in Bengaluru on May 24). And most of it has been hate and abuse. They haven’t even left my family out of it,” Neeraj said.

“”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
worldclass sporting events. Invites had gone out to all athletes on Monday, two days before the terror attacks in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir),” he explained.

“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 am confident that our country’ response will show our strength as a nation and justice will be served,” Neeraj said on Friday.

“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,” the champion athlete who alongwith JSW Sports is organising the Neeraj Chopra Classic.

“We are simple people, please don’t make us outto 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,” he said.

“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 haven’t held back from targeting her for that very same statement,” Neeraj said.

“I, meanwhile, will work even harder to ensure that the world remembers India and looks at it with envy and respect for all the right reasons,” he concluded.