Indian Hockey Team Wears Black Arm Bands Vs Pakistan To Condemn Attacks On Soldiers In Kashmir

In a match against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Hockey World League semi-finals on Sunday, the Indian hockey team and its support staff walked on to the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Stadium wearing black arm bands to condemn recent attacks on Indian soldiers by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

India thrashed Pakistan 7-1 in the match. Team’s captain Harmanpreet Singh, who scored twice, said the players would use their sport to drive message home. “We wanted to win today to show not only our proud nation but all the World that we will stand up and fight for what we believe in through sport,” he said.

“The players of the Indian hockey teams have always shown tremendous belief and support for the Indian Armed Forces who guard the safety of our nation. Today, the team strongly felt the need to condole the recent attacks carried out in Jammu & Kashmir where Indian soldiers lost their lives,” Mohd Mustaque Ahmad, Secretary General of Hockey India, said in a statement.

“It was a unanimous decision to wear black arm bands to condole these deaths and they wish for peace to prevail in the state of Jammu & Kashmir,” he added.

This is not the first time that the Indian hockey team has expressed displeasure and sadness at the lives lost in the valley. Indian hockey players have often taken to social media to condemn the attacks on Indian army. Indian teem’s keeper, PR Sreejesh, who is currently injured, had dedicated the team’s 2016 Champions Trophy title to the soldiers. India had defeated Pakistan in the final in 2016.