After a recent cricket match controversy involving a handshake boycott, a contrasting scene unfolded in the Sultan of Johor Cup 2025 hockey tournament as the junior teams of India and Pakistan faced off. In a thrilling encounter at the Taman Daya Hockey Stadium in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, the young athletes engaged in spirited competition, culminating in a hard-fought victory for India, 3-2. More importantly, the match was marked by a display of sportsmanship, symbolized by a post-game high-five between the players.

This gesture stands in stark contrast to the tension that arose after the recent Asia Cup 2025 cricket match between the senior teams of India and Pakistan. Following that match, the Indian team refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts, a decision that sparked controversy and led to official complaints. The refusal to shake hands was reportedly motivated by heightened political tensions and in protest of the Pahalgam terror attack.

In the wake of the cricket controversy, reports circulated that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) had instructed its junior team to avoid handshakes and any undue clashes with the Indian players. However, these instructions seemingly did not prevent the team from engaging in the customary post-match exchange, as players from both sides were seen sharing high-fives after the final whistle.

The hockey match itself was a gripping affair. Pakistan initially took a 2-0 lead, with goals from Abdul Hannan Shahid and Sufyan Khan. India, however, mounted a comeback, with Araijeet Singh Hundal scoring a penalty stroke late in the third quarter and Sourabh Anand Kushwaha netting the equalizer early in the final quarter. India then sealed the victory with a third goal in the final quarter.

The contrasting behavior between the cricket and hockey teams has drawn attention to the complexities of sportsmanship in the context of political relations between India and Pakistan. While the cricket team's actions were interpreted as a political statement, the hockey teams' high-five suggests a desire to maintain respectful relations on the field, even amidst geopolitical tensions.

The Sultan of Johor Cup is an annual U-21 hockey tournament. In this year's edition, India had previously secured wins against Great Britain (3-2) and New Zealand (4-2), while Pakistan had defeated hosts Malaysia (7-2) before losing to Great Britain (1-5).

The India-Pakistan hockey match was streamed live on Ashley Morrison Media's YouTube channel. While no television channel in India telecasted the game, fans were still able to witness the thrilling contest and the symbolic high-five between the two teams. The contrasting images of the handshake boycott in cricket and the high-five in hockey offer a nuanced perspective on the sporting relationship between India and Pakistan, highlighting the potential for both tension and camaraderie.