Nonthaburi: In a rare show of sportsmanship amid strained bilateral relations, the women’s futsal captains of Pakistan and India exchanged a handshake at the toss during their SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026 match at Nonthaburi Stadium on Monday, highlighting the spirit of sport beyond politics.
Ahead of the high-profile encounter, Pakistan captain Kainat Bukhari presented a cultural souvenir to her Indian counterpart Jigmet Chunzen, followed by the customary handshake before kickoff.
The moment stood out as Pakistan and India have met three times in the regional tournament, with Indian players previously refraining from post-toss and post-match handshakes with the Pakistani side.
Similar incidents in women’s cricket
The controversy over handshakes has not been limited to futsal. A similar situation unfolded during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, where captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana avoided shaking hands at the toss.
India edge Pakistan 5-3 in dramatic contest
On the court, India staged a thrilling comeback to defeat Pakistan 5-3, with Diti Kanungo scoring two late goals to seal the win.
Pakistan made a strong start as captain Kainat Bukhari struck early in the fourth minute to give her side the lead. India responded through Arya More ten minutes later, leaving the match tied 1-1 at halftime.
After the break, Pakistan surged ahead with Azwa Chaudhary scoring in the 26th minute, followed by Anmol Hira a minute later to make it 3-1.
India quickly clawed back into the contest as Ritika Singh and Khushbu Saroj scored in quick succession, levelling the score at 3-3.
With momentum shifting, Kanungo delivered the decisive blow, netting in the 37th and 40th minutes to complete India’s come-from-behind 5-3 victory.
Tournament implications
The win marked India’s second victory in the SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship 2026, strengthening their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Pakistan, meanwhile, suffered their first defeat in the seven-team tournament, ending an unbeaten run that included a 1-1 draw against Bhutan and convincing wins over Sri Lanka and Maldives.