Neeraj Chopra — India’s Olympic hero and pride of the nation — has found himself under an unexpected barrage of hate and criticism this past week. The reason? His gesture of inviting Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem to compete at the Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) to be held in Bengaluru next month.
The backlash intensified in the wake of the heartbreaking terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which left 26 people dead and many more injured.
But Chopra, known for letting his actions do the talking, decided it was time to speak — and he did so with strength, emotion, and clarity.
In a heartfelt and firm statement shared on his social media, Neeraj opened up about the abuse he and his family have been subjected to over the last few days. “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,” he wrote.
The invitation to Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj clarified, was extended “from one athlete to another” and had been sent two days before the horrific attack in Pahalgam. “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,” he explained.
However, given the recent events, Neeraj made it clear that Arshad’s participation is now “completely out of the question.” His words left no room for doubt — the emotion was real, and the hurt, very personal.
“I usually am 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.
The 26-year-old javelin star also emphasized that he shares in the nation’s grief and anger following the terror strike. “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 am confident that our country’s response will show our strength as a nation and justice will be served.”
While Neeraj has long been a symbol of sporting excellence, he’s also a figure of humility and quiet dignity. But this time, the questioning of his loyalty and integrity hit a nerve — especially as it dragged his family into the crossfire. “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,” he said.
He also didn’t hold back from calling out the shifting tone of public sentiment. “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.”
As the NC Classic approaches, Neeraj remains focused on the bigger goal: making India a center for world-class athletics, and ensuring that sport continues to bring pride to the country. “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.
In a world quick to judge, Neeraj Chopra’s voice stands as a reminder that patriotism isn’t proven through noise but through years of service, pride, and integrity — qualities he has carried with him, quite literally, on the global stage.