In the wake of Operation Sindoor—India’s precise and strategic military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives—the country’s sporting icons have united in a powerful show of support for the armed forces.
From cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Harbhajan Singh, and Suresh Raina, to Olympic and Paralympic heroes like Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, and Devendra Jhajharia, sports stars across disciplines have hailed the Indian Army’s swift and calibrated counterstrike.
In the early hours of May 7, India launched precision air and missile strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, targeting infrastructure linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the intelligence-led operation was designed to avoid civilian casualties and refrained from targeting Pakistani military assets, underscoring India’s strategic restraint even in retaliation.
A Nation United in Tribute
The Indian sports fraternity responded with heartfelt tributes on social media, many using trending hashtags like #OperationSindoor and #JaiHind.
Sachin Tendulkar tweeted a message of unity and resilience:
“Fearless in unity. Boundless in strength. India’s shield is her people. There’s no room for terrorism in this world. We’re ONE TEAM!”
Bajrang Punia, whose brother was killed in the Pahalgam attack, broke his silence with a deeply emotional statement:
“The Army has honoured the sacrifice of my brother with courage and precision. Their action brings solace to grieving families and pride to the nation. On national security, India must speak in one voice.”
Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian men’s team and a staunch supporter of national security, simply posted: “Jai Hind.”
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra and spinner Pragyan Ojha echoed the sentiment with the same two words.
Harbhajan Singh, Rajya Sabha MP, declared:
“#OperationSindoor is Bharat’s response to the brutal killing of our innocent brothers in Pahalgam. Jai Hind.”
Jhulan Goswami described the strike with poetic brevity:
“Precision. Purpose. Power. That’s how India answers.”
Shikhar Dhawan shared a short clip on Instagram, captioned:
“Jo kaha tha, woh karke dikhaya. Justice is served. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!”
Mohammad Shami added:
“The Indian Armed Forces turned adversity into a powerful Fateh moment. Jai Hind.”
Olympic boxer Vijender Singh kept it stirring and short: “Bharat Mata ki Jai.”
“A Message, Not Just a Response”
Wrestler Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyawart Kadian said:
“Jin atankvadiyon ne Pahalgam me desh ki behan-betiyon ka sindoor ujada tha, Bharatiya Sena ne unki aane wali pushtein tak ujaad di. Jai Hind, Jai Hind ki Sena.”
Cricketer Varun Chakravarthy, currently playing in IPL 2025, shared an official photo from the operation.
Former pacer Chetan Sharma added:
“Jab baat suraksha ki ho toh Bharat sankoch nahi karta. #OperationSindoor – ek jawab nahi, ek sandesh hai.”
Paralympic legend Devendra Jhajharia, now PCI President, praised the leadership of Prime Minister Modi in an emotional Hindi post:
“Operation Sindoor is not just a military operation, it’s a tribute to our martyrs and a strong message to those who test India’s resolve.”
Badminton star Saina Nehwal and Suresh Raina also joined in, posting “Jai Hind” to millions of followers.
Boxer Gaurav Bidhuri summed up public sentiment bluntly:
“While we slept, our Army carried out Operation Sindoor. To all who kept asking, ‘Why not attack?’—this is your answer.”
The Defence Ministry’s early morning statement emphasized that the nine terror sites were selected based on concrete intelligence and had direct links to groups responsible for past cross-border attacks.
As the nation mourns the victims and salutes its defenders, Operation Sindoor has become a rallying cry not only for justice, but for unity.
(With IANS inputs)