Asian Games: Handshake not an issue in table tennis as India women thrash Pakistan
Shaking hands wasn’t an issue during the India vs Pakistan clash in women’s table tennis at the Asian Games 2026 as both sets of stars showed sportsmanship at the end of each match. It was India that produced a sensational performance to blank Pakistan 3-0 and make it to the Round of 16, where they’re expected to get an easy opponent.
Suthirtha Mukherjee, Syndrela Das and Sreeja Akula secured the wins for the women’s team, who started their campaign by stunning Singapore 3-2. Suthirtha opened with a convincing 3-0 (11-3, 11-3, 11-4) win over Aleena Khan to give India a 1-0 lead. It was right after the match when cameras picked up the Indian and Pakistani paddlers shaking hands.
The trend then continued throughout the contest with Syndrela and Sreeja also doing the same with their opponents after beating them.
Syndrela delivered another commanding performance in the second match of the tie, brushing aside Kalsoom Khan in straight games, 11-6, 11-7, 11-5. The win gave India a 2-0 advantage and put them within touching distance of sealing the contest.
Sreeja Akula then stepped up in the third match against Fatima Khan and wrapped up the tie in emphatic fashion. She dropped just 13 points across three games, winning 11-4, 11-4, 11-5 to complete another 3-0 victory for the Indian team, who will be hoping to continue their fine run.
The Indian men’s team will also be facing Pakistan later on in the day.
India have been maintaining a strict no-handshake policy with Pakistan in cricket ever since the Pahalgam terror attack last year. Since then the Indian captains, players haven’t shaken hands with their counterparts before and after a game.
However, in other sports, it hasn’t been the same. Recently during the hockey World Cup, the Indian players were seen high-fiving their counterparts before the start of the match.
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