The India-Pakistan rivalry produced another intense contest at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, but a moment of sportsmanship after the final whistle captured significant attention.
India defeated Pakistan 5-3 in their final Pool D match in Amstelveen, Netherlands, extending their decade-long unbeaten run against their arch-rivals. However, the interaction between the two teams before and after the match became an important talking point.
After the national anthems, the players did not exchange the traditional pre-match handshake. Instead, the two sides shared quick high-fives before taking the field.
The gesture was particularly notable against the backdrop of strained India-Pakistan relations and the recent decision by their cricket teams to avoid handshakes.
Players shake hands after final whistle
Despite skipping the customary greeting before the match, Indian and Pakistani players shook hands after full-time.
The post-match interaction offered a contrasting picture to the intense battle on the pitch and was widely noticed by fans following the encounter.
Hockey’s approach also differs from recent India-Pakistan cricket encounters, where the teams have avoided handshakes following the tensions surrounding Operation Sindoor.
India dominate Pakistan in five-goal thriller
On the field, India produced a strong attacking performance.
Captain Harmanpreet Singh scored twice from penalty corners, finding the net in the 5th and 21st minutes. Forward Abhishek also struck twice, scoring field goals in the 11th and 24th minutes.
Hardik Singh added India’s fifth goal in the 34th minute through a penalty stroke.
Pakistan fought back through Hannan Shahid, who scored in the 22nd and 46th minutes, while Sufyan Khan converted a penalty corner in the 24th minute.
India eventually held their nerve to secure a 5-3 victory in front of a packed Wagener Stadium, which had a reported capacity of around 10,000.
Pakistan’s World Cup campaign ends
The defeat brought Pakistan’s campaign to an end, while India continued their impressive run against their traditional rivals.
The match once again highlighted the fierce competitive nature of India-Pakistan sporting encounters. Yet, the decision by players to shake hands after the match provided a notable display of sporting respect beyond the result.
