India-Pakistan Handshake Again: A match was played between the Indian junior hockey team and the Pakistani hockey team in the Sultan Johor Cup held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia on Tuesday. Before the start of this match, both the teams shook hands with each other, which is being discussed vigorously on social media. This discussion is happening because relations between India and Pakistan soured after the Pahalgam attack. Players from both the countries also kept their distance from each other on the field. Even in the Asia Cup, the Indian cricket team did not shake hands with the Pakistani players. This tradition was also seen in the Women’s World Cup. The Indian team’s women players kept their distance from the Pakistani women players.
Even before the match between India and Pakistan was played in the Sultan Johor Cup, the teams of both the countries started the match by high-five. Let us tell you that senior officials of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had already instructed its players to be mentally prepared. They were told that if the Indian team players do not shake hands, they should ignore it and avoid any emotional match. The official also explained that the players have been taught to avoid any emotional reactions during the match, so that the focus can be on the sports competition. Earlier in August, the Pakistani team did not send its team to India, which has increased tension in the relations between India and Pakistan. Now a new beginning has been made in the tradition of both the countries on the hockey field.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have reached a peak since the Pahalgam terrorist attack. After this attack, there was a lot of discussion about boycotting the match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup on September 14. But in the end both the teams took to the field. But during the match, the Indian players refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players. In the Asia Cup 2025, the two teams played three matches, but each time the Indian players did not shake hands. Not only this, after winning the Asia Cup, the Indian players did not accept the trophy from Pakistan’s Mohsin Naqvi, who is the ACC chairman. There was a big controversy over this. But now there is talk that this tension has ended on the hockey field.
