Bangalore: Neeraj Chopra's Meet in Doubt as Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem Skips Invite
India's Neeraj Chopra denies participation of Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem in the Bengaluru javelin competition
Neeraj Chopra, India's golden javelin star, has expressed doubts about Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem attending his meet in Bengaluru due to the recent tensions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir's (IIOJK).
With India and Pakistan's relations at an all-time low following the tragedy that claimed 26 lives, it seems Arshad Nadeem, Pakistan's first individual Olympic gold medallist, won't be gracing the Neeraj Chopra Classic on May 24.
Chopra had previously extended an invitation to the world's top throwers, including Nadeem, envisioning a path towards a Diamond League event in India. However, the events in IIOJK have cast a shadow over the proceedings, making Nadeem's attendance seemingly impossible.
Neeraj Chopra's Frustration
In a social media post, Chopra expressed his dismay over the backlash he received for extending the invitation. "The invitation to Arshad Nadeem was merely an athlete reaching out to another, nothing more," Chopra, a double medalist in Tokyo and Paris, mentioned.
The aim of the Neeraj Chopra Classic was to welcome elite athletes to India and make the country a global sports hub. With the turmoil that has unfolded in the past few days, Nadeem's presence at the event could no longer be entertained, Chopra added.
Reports suggest that Nadeem opted not to attend the Bengaluru meet due to scheduling conflicts with the Asian Championships in South Korea next month.
Sports - A Battlefield of Sour Relations
This isn't the first time political tensions have affected sports performance between the two countries. Earlier this year, India's cricket team avoided traveling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy. Instead, all the matches, including the final, were played in Dubai.
It remains unclear whether geopolitical factors have directly influenced Nadeem's decision to skip the Neeraj Chopra Classic. With its international lineup comprising notable names like Neeraj Chopra himself, Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, Thomas Röhler, Curtis Thompson, and Rumesh Pathirage, the event is eagerly awaited.
However, as of current information, Arshad Nadeem’s participation status at the event is uncertain, with no official statement addressing the reason for his potential absence.
- Neeraj Chopra, gold medalist in javelin, expressed doubts about the attendance of Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem, the first individual Olympic gold medallist, at his meet in Bengaluru, due to the recent tensions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
- In a social media post, Chopra expressed his dismay over the backlash he received for extending an invitation to Arshad Nadeem, stating that it was merely a fellow athlete reaching out to another.
- Reports suggest that Nadeem opted not to attend the Bengaluru meet due to scheduling conflicts with the Asian Championships in South Korea next month, rather than geopolitical factors.
- With its international lineup including names like Neeraj Chopra, Arshad Nadeem, Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, Thomas Röhler, Curtis Thompson, and Rumesh Pathirage, the Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled for Wednesday, is eagerly awaited, but as of current information, Arshad Nadeem’s participation status remains uncertain.
