Amid the surging military tensions between India and Pakistan, the world of sport, across all facets in India, has also been affected. After the suspension of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, the Neeraj Chopra Classic javelin throw meet is another major event that has been postponed for an indefinite time.
Neeraj Chopra Classic, the one-day event that was set to be organised at the Sri Kanteerva Stadium in Bengaluru on May 24, stands postponed until further notice.
Taking to their official X account, Neeraj Chopra Classic said that the inaugural event has been postponed indefinitely due to the current India-Pakistan tensions, with organisers prioritising the safety of athletes and expressing solidarity with the armed forces.
“In light of the current situation, the inaugural edition of the NC Classic stands postponed until further notice. This decision has been made after careful thought and consultation, with the well-being of athletes, stakeholders, and the broader community as the top priority. We believe in the unifying power of sport. But, in this critical moment, standing firm with the nation matters most. All our gratitude and thoughts at this point are only with our Armed Forces, who are at the forefront for our nation. A revised schedule for the NC Classic will be provided in due course. Jai Hind,” reads the statement.
STATEMENT. pic.twitter.com/S6EdZ87ITh
— Neeraj Chopra Classic (@nc_classic) May 9, 2025
Earlier, India’s two-time Olympic medallist issued an emotional statement addressing the controversy surrounding his invitation to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for the Neeraj Chopra Classic in Bengaluru, which came in the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sharing his thoughts on social media, the Indian javelin ace clarified that the invitation had been extended long before the attack and expressed sorrow over the hate and abuse directed at him and his family since then.
“I usually am a man of few words, but that doesn’t mean I will not speak up against what I think is wrong. More so when it comes to questioning my love for our country, and the respect and honour of my family. 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. The invitation I extended to Arshad was from one athlete to another – nothing more, nothing less. The aim of the NC Classic was to bring the best athletes to India and for our country to be the home of world-class sporting events. Invites had gone out to all athletes on Monday, two days before the terrorist attacks at Pahalgam,” Chopra had in the X post.
This is developing news. More to follow.
