India and Pakistan Hockey players set aside politics, shake hands before first-ever FIH Pro League showdown

India and Pakistan hockey teams kept the diplomatic differences aside and shook hands ahead of their first-ever FIH Pro League meeting on Tuesday in London.

The no-handshake policy with Pakistan during international sporting events was adopted after the Pahalgam massacre in April 2025, in which terrorists brutally killed 26 innocent civilians at the Baisaran valley.

Former India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav followed the policy during the 2025 Asia Cup by not shaking hands with PAK skipper Salman Ali Agha during the toss, and the policy extended to the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025, Men's T20 World Cup 2026, and the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

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India-Pakistan Hockey players shake hands at FIH Pro League

Unlike the Indian cricket teams, the Harmanpreet Singh-led Indian men's hockey team shook hands with their Pakistani counterparts at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London after the national anthems were played. The teams also exchanged high-fives after the game ended.

It was the first-ever India-Pakistan encounter at the FIH Pro League, with Pakistan making their debut in the tournament.

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Notably, the Indian hockey players had also shaken hands with the Pakistan players during the Sultan of Johor Cup in 2025. The game ended in a 3-3 draw.

At that time, Hockey India Secretary-General Bhola Nath Singh said to TOI that the governing body hasn't prevented players from engaging in high-fives or post-match handshakes.

India defeat Pakistan in thrilling hockey duel 

India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating FIH Pro League match on Tuesday, extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against the arch-rivals in international hockey.

Ahmad Nadeem gave Pakistan the lead in the eighth minute through a penalty corner before Abhishek (22nd) struck from a field effort to draw parity. Nilakanta Sharma then gave India the lead, converting a penalty corner in the 24th minute as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

India extended their lead in the 40th minute through a field goal from Sukhjeet Singh, and then Rajinder Singh made it 4-1 from a penalty corner. But Pakistan came back strongly in the final quarter, with Abu Mahmood (53rd) and Moin Shakeel (60th) scoring from penalty corners to reduce the margin, but it was not enough.

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The victory lifted India to seventh in the standings and came in the first meeting between the two sides since the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in China, where the Harmanpreet Singh-led side had prevailed 2-1.

India will next take on hosts England in the London leg of the Pro League here on Friday.

(With PTI Inputs)