India’s top midfielder Hardik Singh reportedly mimicked the fighter jet gesture while talking about the Pakistan hockey team, and said that no rivalry exists between India and Pakistan in their sport. Tension between the two countries has been at an all-time high since the heinous Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 this year by Pakistan-backed terrorists that left 26 Indian civilians dead. India responded by hitting terror bases in Pakistan as part of Operation Sindoor.
The fighter jet gesture was something that Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf had resorted to during an Asia Cup match against India in Dubai when he was being trolled by Indian fans while he was fielding on the boundary rope.
Now Hardik has mocked the gesture while talking about how an Indian vs Pakistan rivalry does not exist in hockey at the moment.
“I think that right now there is no competition, so there is no point talking about it, there is no doubt in the widening gap. Because the way things are going these days, I think it is not there only,” Hardik said at the India Today Conclave.
Indian hockey team has remained unbeaten in the last 10 games with Pakistan; winning eight games and drawing two against Pakistan.
Hardik said that Pakistan hockey team’s decline was due to the national federation.
“I think their federation ( is responsible). I think their athletes are quite good, but they are not getting facilities. Like in 2014, they had won against us the last time. Since 2014, Pakistan has not won against India in hockey. So I think like twelve years? Yes we didn’t lose a match,” said Hardik.
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Hardik’s gesture is an indicator of how strained even sporting ties are between athletes from both countries since the Pahalgam terror attack. The political tension had spilled over to the sports field with the Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refusing to shake hands with the Pakistan cricket team. This has led to threats of boycott, complaints, a match being delayed by an hour. The two teams have played each other twice in the Asia Cup and will play for the third time in the final.
In hockey, Pakistan did not play the Asia Cup hockey tournament, which was hosted in Rajgir in August-September. India had won the tournament and qualified for the World Cup, set to be hosted in Belgium and Netherlands from from August 14 to 30 next year.
