WATCH: India TT Star Breaks Crickets No-Handshake With Pakistan Trend At Asian Games 2026 - ABP Live English

India’s women’s table tennis team defeated Pakistan 3-0 at the Asian Games 2026 to finish top of Group F and book a place in the quarterfinals with three consecutive victories. The result was accompanied by another notable moment as Indian and Pakistani players exchanged handshakes after their matches. The gesture contrasted with recent India-Pakistan cricket meetings, where players have repeatedly skipped the customary handshake amid tensions between the two countries and a continuing cricket-specific no-handshake trend.

India began the tie strongly through Sutirtha Mukherjee, who defeated Aleena Khan 11-3, 11-3, 11-4. The Indian player completed her match within just 10 minutes overall.

Syndrela Das then extended India’s advantage by beating Kalsoom Khan 11-6, 11-7, 11-5. The 17-year-old continued her impressive international form after earning selection for India’s senior squad this season.

Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das and Sreeja Akula seal a 3-0 win without dropping a game in Table Tennis Women's Team Event. 💪Watch the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #AsianGames… pic.twitter.com/An6us82cxF

No issues with handshakes in India vs Pakistan table tennisCricket should follow. But they wont. 🤦#AsianGames pic.twitter.com/oTDa5r5PI4

Sreeja Akula completed India’s 3-0 victory against Pakistan after defeating Fatima Khan 11-4, 11-4, 11-5. Akula needed only 11 minutes to seal the decisive win for India.

The victory followed India’s earlier group-stage successes against Indonesia and Singapore. Three consecutive wins ensured India finished at the top of Group F and progressed into the quarterfinals.

The post-match handshakes between Indian and Pakistani table tennis players attracted attention because recent cricket meetings between the countries have featured repeated avoidance of the customary gesture.

The cricket trend began during the 2025 men’s Asia Cup and continued into subsequent India-Pakistan matches. The two sides again avoided handshakes during their Women’s Asia Cup fixture in Dubai earlier this month.

That cricket-specific pattern has not been replicated across every sport. Indian and Pakistani athletes have continued to exchange customary gestures of sportsmanship in several other international competitions.

The contrast was particularly noticeable at the Asian Games, where the table tennis players followed the conventional sporting practice after completing their respective matches against each other.

Mukherjee entered the Asian Games after winning a women’s doubles bronze medal at the Hangzhou Games and provided India with a commanding start against Pakistan.

Das, currently ranked 99th in the ITTF women’s singles rankings according to the supplied report, also continued her rise after being rewarded with a place in India’s senior Asian Games squad.

Akula then delivered the final point without dropping a game, completing another convincing result for an Indian team that had already secured victories against Indonesia and Singapore.

India’s progress into the quarterfinals adds another strong result to its Asian Games campaign, while the post-match handshakes provided a notable reminder that sporting interactions between the two countries can differ across disciplines.

The latest cricket-related backdrop includes India’s women’s team declining to receive the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi after defeating Sri Lanka in the final.

In table tennis, however, the India-Pakistan meeting concluded with players exchanging handshakes, keeping the focus firmly on competition and customary sporting etiquette at the Asian Games.

India's women's table tennis team defeated Pakistan 3-0 at the Asian Games 2026. This victory secured their position at the top of Group F and advanced them to the quarterfinals.

Sutirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das, and Sreeja Akula were the Indian players who contributed to the 3-0 win. Each player won their individual matches without dropping a single game.

Indian and Pakistani players exchanged handshakes after their matches. This gesture was notable because it contrasted with the recent trend of no handshakes in India-Pakistan cricket meetings.

India's team achieved three consecutive victories in the group stage of the Asian Games. They defeated Indonesia, Singapore, and Pakistan 3-0, ultimately topping Group F.

Prateek Thakur is a Copy Editor at ABP Live English, reporting on major sporting events while spotlighting the human stories of athletes that matter.

You can reach out to him at prateekt@abpnetwork.com.

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