A day after Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra was subjected to a wave of online hate and abuse for inviting Pakistani athlete Arshad Nadeem to his forthcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic event, fellow Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt has come forward to lend his strong support. Chopra had made it clear that the invitation to Nadeem, the current Olympic champion from Pakistan, was sent out two days before the recent terrorist incident in Pahalgam.

The controversy arose after reports of the invitation spread online, resulting in unjust criticism and trolling aimed at Chopra, even affecting his family. In response, a visibly emotional Chopra released a statement defending his motivations and urging the trolls to keep his family out of the situation.

Throwing his support behind Chopra, Yogeshwar Dutt took to social media to convey his solidarity. In a heartfelt message written in Hindi, Dutt praised Chopra's patriotism and accomplishments.

“Neeraj Bhai, you do not need to prove your patriotism or to prove yourself. It is solely a sportsperson and a soldier who raise the Tricolour flag on foreign soil and honor the name of their country. And you are both a soldier and a sportsperson. Those who speak nonsense are merely trivial ideological individuals who care for neither the country nor patriotism. You are a champion, you are the leader of the nation, keep progressing like this. The champion is always the best,” Dutt’s post stated.

Previously, Neeraj Chopra himself dealt with the matter in a comprehensive statement on his social media accounts. He shared his displeasure regarding the unnecessary negativity surrounding a straightforward sports invitation. “There has been an excessive amount of discussion regarding my choice to invite Arshad Nadeem to participate in the Neeraj Chopra Classic, and the majority has been filled with hatred and insults,” Chopra remarked. “They have not even spared my family from it. The invitation I gave to Arshad was from one athlete to another — no more, no less. The purpose of the NC Classic was to assemble the top athletes in India and for our nation to host world-class sporting events. Invitations were sent out to all athletes on Monday, two days prior to the terrorist attacks at Pahalgam. Following everything that has occurred in the past 48 hours, Arshad's attendance at the NC Classic was entirely out of the question. ”

Chopra also reaffirmed his steadfast dedication to his country, particularly in the wake of the recent tragic incidents. “My nation and its interests will always be my priority. To those who are experiencing the sorrow of losing their loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you. Together with the entire nation, I am both pained and enraged by what has transpired. I am assured that our nation's response will demonstrate our strength and justice will prevail,” he asserted.

Yogeshwar Dutt’s firm backing highlights the sentiment within the sports community, acknowledging Chopra’s accomplishments and his entitlement to extend a sports invitation without having his patriotism challenged. The incident emphasizes the unfortunate rise of online toxicity and the necessity for respectful dialogue, particularly regarding athletes who have instilled great pride in the nation.

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