 "Handshake controversy erupts at India-Pakistan tennis match; fans slam 'filthy attitude' from Pak player")
A handshake controversy has erupted between an Indian tennis star and a Pakistani player after India secured a dominant win over their neighbours in a Junior Davis Cup (U-16) match in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.
The Indian tennis team demolished Pakistan 2-0 as India’s Prkaash Sarran and Tavish Pahwa won their singles matches in the super tie-break. However, the reaction of the Pakistani player in the wake of the defeat has led to a major controversy.
IND vs PAK: Handshake controversy erupts after tennis match
In a video that is going viral from the match, a Pakistani player can be seen offering a very rude handshake to the Indian tennis player. The first attempt from the Pakistani player looked almost like a slap to the hands of the Indian player, however, he missed.
On the second attempt, he did manage to make contact but pulled away his hand immediately in an abrupt manner, highlighting his disappointment with the result. As per reports, the handshake incident took place between Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig and India’s Tavish Pahwa.
🇮🇳 India - 🇵🇰 Pakistan Handshake Drama at the Junior Davis Cup in Kazakhstan
— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) May 27, 2025
India beat Pakistan 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mI85JBETCo
To his credit, Pahwa showed great maturity and calmness during the unsportsmanlike incident, as he neither reacted poorly nor did anything untoward.
Fans slam Pakistan player after handshake controversy
Pakistan’s Mikaeel Ali Baig has come under fire on social media platforms for his behaviour. He has been criticised a lot by tennis fans, who disapproved of his behaviour.
“Don’t know the score but it would have been 6-0, 6-0 with this filthy attitude. Shit mindset,” Indian tennis fan Shahid A. Shaikh wrote on X.
Don’t know the score but it would have been 6-0, 6-0 with this filthy attitude. Shit mindset.
— Shahid A. Shaikh (@shahtwitting) May 28, 2025
“Loser PAK.. No sportsman ship,” another fan wrote.
A fan asked the player to be banned. “Should be banned,” he remarked.
It is worth noting that the handshake controversy comes close on the heels of Operation Sindoor, which India launched against Pakistan, resulting in the destruction of multiple terror camp sites in the country after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack.
For the unversed, the India vs Pakistan tennis match was played for the 11th place in the Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup under-16 tennis tournament.
In the 11th-place playoff, India’s Prakaash Sarran defeated Abu Bakar Talha 6-7(2), 6-3, [10-4] while Tavish Pahwa beat Mikaeel Ali Baig 4-6, 6-2, [12-10].
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