Arshad Nadeem Declines NC Classic Invite
The Asian Athletics Championship, which begins on May 27, will feature top athletes from the region, including Nadeem, who is set to represent Pakistan. The championship will be a key event in the athletics calendar, with many athletes using it as a platform to prepare for upcoming international competitions.
Pakistan's Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem has declined an invitation from Indian javelin star Neeraj Chopra to participate in the Bengaluru Classic Throwing Championship on May 24, citing prior training commitments and a trip to South Korea for the Asian Athletics Championship.
Nadeem, who won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, had been invited by Chopra to participate in the event, which has been granted Category A status by World Athletics and will feature top global and Indian javelin throwers, including Anderson Peters and Thomas Rohler. However, he stated that he had to leave for Korea on May 22 for the Asian Championships, which will take place from May 27 to 31.
Neeraj Chopra, the Indian javelin thrower, is set to host a World Athletics Gold category event, the Neeraj Chopra Classic, in Bengaluru on May 24. The event will feature prominent throwers, including former world champions Thomas Roehler and Julius Yego. Chopra has expressed his dream of hosting a Diamond League event in India, which he believes can be achieved with the support of World Athletics and local talent.
Nadeem expressed gratitude to Chopra and wished the event success, while Chopra emphasized the importance of bringing a Diamond League event to India, citing the country's growing popularity of athletics events. The NC Classic event is expected to be an annual occurrence and will expand to include more disciplines in the future.