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NEW DELHI: Indian athletes will be free to decide for themselves whether to shake hands or exchange pleasantries with their Pakistani counterparts during the CWG, while the acceptance of gifts or presents from the neighbouring country’s sportspersons has been ruled out, TOI has learnt.With the Indian and Pakistan contingents mostly staying in the same hotels under Glasgow’s ‘zone-based’ accommodation system instead of a traditional Athletes’ Village concept, interactions between athletes from the two countries are expected to be inevitable during the Games.It’s been learnt that the issue was discussed by Indian sports officials in Glasgow as part of internal deliberations with the contingent. While accepting gifts or presents from Pakistan athletes was expressly forbidden, the decision on handshakes and exchange of pleasantries has been left to the athletes’ individual judgement and, in some cases, the guidance of their respective national sports federations (NSFs). No formal instructions have been issued by the authorities on the matter.In athletics, for instance, India’s star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s reigning CWG champion Arshad Nadeem are staying at the same hotel in Zone 3 ahead of their competition, making interactions between the two likely.Different sports, however, have adopted varying approaches. It’s learnt that lawn bowls officials have told Indian players there is no issue with handshakes, high-fives or exchanging pleasantries with Pakistani opponents. A few other NSFs have conveyed similar sentiments.India’s approach towards sporting engagement with Pakistan has long distinguished between bilateral competition and multinational events. While bilateral sporting ties remain suspended, athletes from both countries continue to compete against each other in international multi-sport events. In cricket, Indian and Pakistani players have avoided the customary pre-match and postmatch handshakes in recent years. In contrast, junior hockey teams from the two countries exchanged highfives after their Sultan of Johor Cup match.
