Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra in hot water over invitation to Arshad Nadeem

India's Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has found himself at the center of a storm after extending an invitation to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem to participate in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled for May 22 in Bengaluru.

The invitation, initially intended as a gesture of goodwill and sportsmanship, quickly became a controversial topic of public debate, sparking intense criticism.

The 27-year-old addressed the controversy in a social media post on Friday, attempting to clarify the context and intent of the invitation.

He emphasized that the invitation was made as a sporting gesture well before the incident, with no political motivations behind it.

Arshad Nadeem, who secured a gold medal for Pakistan at the Commonwealth Games, had already respectfully declined the invitation.

He cited scheduling conflicts due to his preparations for the upcoming Asian Athletics Championship.

To further clarify, he stated that the invitation was extended purely for the purpose of bringing together the world’s top javelin athletes for the event, with no hidden agenda.

"The invitation was simply one athlete inviting another, nothing more. We were inviting the best javelin throwers for the NC Classic," Neeraj remarked.

Addressing concerns regarding the timing of the invitation, Chopra clarified that it was made well in advance of the Palagham incident, rejecting claims that it was a reaction to national sentiments.

"The invitation to Arshad Nadeem was sent well before the incident," he said.

In response to accusations of flip-flopping, Chopra defended his stance, underscoring that standing by one's values doesn't require silence during challenging moments.

"I am someone who stands by my words, but that does not mean I will stay silent when something is wrong," he said.

Chopra expressed disappointment at the negative commentary surrounding his gesture, which he intended as a display of sportsmanship.