Neeraj Chopra, India's Olympic gold medalist, recently found himself at the center of a controversy after inviting Pakistan's javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem to compete in the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) Javelin Tournament.

The tournament is set to begin on May 24, but Arshad declined the invitation due to his prior commitment to the Asian Athletics Championship in Korea. Despite this, Neeraj's invitation sparked a wave of hatred on social media, with many criticizing him and even attacking his family.

In response, Neeraj took to social media to express his frustration, stating that his invitation was simply a gesture from one athlete to another. He clarified that his priority was always his country and that the presence of Arshad at the tournament was now impossible due to recent events, including the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Neeraj also expressed his sympathies to the victims and their families, reaffirming his commitment to his nation.