Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra responded to backlash over his decision to invite Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru in May 2025. Chopra explained that the invitation was extended before the Pahalgam attacks and denounced the hate he and his family received in response. The double Olympic medalist reaffirmed his loyalty to India and the tournament’s objective of boosting Indian sports. However, he acknowledged that Nadeem’s participation is no longer feasible due to the circumstances.