Neeraj Chopra postpones Bengaluru javelin event amid India-Pakistan tensions 

BENGALURU: Indian Olympic gold medallist Neeraj Chopra has postponed his upcoming javelin competition in Bengaluru, citing the ongoing military escalation between India and Pakistan — their most serious in nearly 30 years.

The Neeraj Chopra Classic, scheduled for May 24, was part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold and was expected to feature several top international athletes, including Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, Thomas Röhler, and Curtis Thompson. 

Chopra’s team announced the postponement on Friday, shortly after both countries suspended their premier Twenty20 cricket leagues in response to the worsening conflict. 

“This decision was taken after careful consideration, keeping the safety of athletes, organisers, and the wider community in mind,” said a statement posted on Chopra’s social media accounts. “While we deeply value the power of sport to bring people together, this is a moment to stand with the nation. Our thoughts are with the Armed Forces protecting the country.” 

The announcement followed a recent statement by Chopra ruling out the participation of Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem — a fellow javelin star and Olympic gold medallist — in the Bengaluru event. His remarks came days after a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, which India has blamed on Pakistan. 

In response, Indian forces launched strikes on what they claimed were “terrorist camps” across the border in Pakistan. Islamabad denied the allegations and accused New Delhi of fabricating the charges without any evidence. 

Chopra, who made history with his gold medal win at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, said a new date for the event would be announced later. 

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