Neeraj Chopra, fearing backlash from the Indian public and media, started explaining why he invited Arshad Nadeem to India. Despite Nadeem declining the invitation due to a busy schedule, Chopra felt the need to clarify his actions after the Pahalgam incident. He expressed sympathy for the situation and emphasized that the invitation was a gesture between athletes. Chopra explained that invitations for the NC Classic were sent to top javelin throwers before the incident, and with recent events, there was no question of Nadeem participating.The invitation to Arshad Nadeem was just a gesture from one athlete to another, nothing beyond that.
Chopra also stated that his priority was the country and its interests, offering condolences to those affected by the incident. The NC Classic is scheduled to begin on May 22 in Bengaluru, but Nadeem will miss it due to his commitment to the Asian Athletics Championships.
