Images and videos of the under-21 players shaking hands and sharing high-fives before and after the game quickly went viral, drawing widespread praise online.
Johor Bahru, Malaysia: In a welcome display of sportsmanship, players from the Indian and Pakistani junior men’s hockey teams exchanged handshakes and warm greetings during their Sultan of Johor Cup match on Tuesday, a move that stood in stark contrast to the frosty behaviour witnessed in recent cricket encounters between the two nations.
Images and videos of the under-21 players shaking hands and sharing high-fives before and after the game quickly went viral, drawing widespread praise online. The gesture has been viewed as a refreshing shift from the strained post-match rituals that dominated headlines during the Asia Cup and Women’s Cricket World Cup in recent weeks.
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Just days earlier, India’s senior men’s and women’s cricket teams had refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts during high-profile matches — a response widely interpreted as a political statement in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s retaliatory military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, which reportedly targeted terror infrastructure across the border.
India and Pakistan faced each other three times during the Asia Cup in the UAE, and not once did players exchange handshakes. The women’s team followed suit during their World Cup clash in Colombo, where Pakistan has been playing all its matches on neutral ground due to security concerns.
The situation escalated when India refused to accept the Asia Cup winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Naqvi, in turn, declined to present the trophy and walked off with the silverware. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) defended the snub, stating that it could not accept the award from someone “waging a war against the country.” Pakistan later filed official protests with both the ACC and the International Cricket Council (ICC).
In stark contrast, the hockey match on Tuesday was played in good spirit. Both teams engaged respectfully throughout, and the result — a thrilling 3-3 draw — matched the intensity of the occasion.
Pakistan struck early through Hannan Shahid (5'), and Sufyan Khan added a second in the 39th minute. But India launched a spirited comeback, with goals from Araijeet Singh Hundal (43'), Sourabh Anand Kushwaha (47'), and Manmeet Singh (53') putting them ahead. Pakistan's Sufyan Khan (55') then converted his second penalty corner of the evening to level the score, ensuring both teams shared the points.
India’s undefeated run in the tournament continues, and they will next face Australia on 15th October at 18:05 IST.
The young Indian side, facing a two-goal deficit, mounted an impressive comeback to take the lead late in the match. However, Pakistan struck back in the dying minutes to salvage a draw and ensure both teams shared the spoils.
With this result, India remains unbeaten in the tournament and continues to build momentum ahead of their next group-stage match.
While the contest was fiercely fought, the scenes of mutual respect before and after the match offered a timely reminder that even amid political tensions, sport can still serve as a bridge, particularly when led by the younger generation.
(With inputs from agencies)
Published: 15 Oct 2025, 10:33 am IST
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