‘Rafael down once more’: Pakistan men’s hockey team captain Ammad Butt mocks India after beating France; post goes viral | Hockey News

Ammad Butt mocks India after beating France

NEW DELHI: Pakistan males’s hockey team made headlines after a gripping victory over France within the FIH Nations Cup semifinal, but it surely was captain Ammad Butt’s Instagram post that really ignited the web. Following their 3-2 shootout win in Kuala Lumpur, Butt shared a controversial story studying “Rafael down again” — a comment many noticed as a dig at India, alluding to current navy tensions involving French-made Rafale jets.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Though the post was swiftly deleted, screenshots had already gone viral, stirring a wave of debate.

Ammad Butt’s Instagram story

Many on-line customers, particularly from India and Pakistan, interpreted the remark as mixing sports activities triumph with political and navy historical past, additional amplifying tensions between the 2 nations. On the sector, the match was a thriller. France led 2-1 by the third quarter, however Pakistan mounted a spirited comeback. Waheed Ashraf equalised after which scored once more, just for France to stage within the dying seconds. The shootout noticed Pakistan’s goalkeeper Muneeb ur Rehman shine, saving three makes an attempt, whereas Afraz, Hanan Shahid, and Waheed scored to safe the win. The inexperienced shirts now head to the ultimate in opposition to New Zealand, aiming for his or her first main title in years. But Butt’s provocative post shifted some focus away from their gritty efficiency to a heated social media discourse. Meanwhile, India’s males’s team continues to falter within the FIH Pro League.

They suffered a 3-6 loss to Belgium, marking their seventh consecutive defeat. Despite flashes of promise — objectives from Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, and Amit Rohidas — India’s defensive lapses value them dearly. Their World Cup qualification hopes now hold by a thread after a disappointing European marketing campaign. With Pakistan climbing and India struggling, the emotional undertone in South Asian hockey has hardly ever felt extra intense, each on and off the sector.