Hurts to see my integrity being questioned: Neeraj

One of India’s most decorated athletes is getting hate and abuse for inviting Pak's Nadeem to NC Classic

- PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, April 25: Two-time Olympic medallist javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra Friday hit out at those targetting him for inviting Pakistan's javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for the Neeraj Chopra Classic, saying it was just an "invite from one athlete to another", sent before the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist and Paris Games silver medallist added that it "hurts" him to see he and his family being abused and their integrity being questioned.

Chopra had invited Nadeem, who had beaten the Indian at the Paris Olympic last year to win gold, for the inaugural edition of the Neeraj Chopra Classic to be held in Bangalore May 24.

Nadeem had declined to come citing other commitments.

“There has been so much talk about my decision to invite Arshad Nadeem to compete in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and most of it has been hate and abuse. They haven't even left my family out of it," said Chopra in a long post on ‘X’.