Indian women’s table tennis team overturned a 1-2 deficit against Thailand in Nagoya on Tuesday to secure a 3-2 victory and set up a quarterfinal meeting with North Korea at the Asian Games 2026.
3 Key Takeaways
- India recovered from 1-2 down to defeat Thailand 3-2 in women’s table tennis.
- Yashaswini Ghorpade won twice, while Sreeja Akula clinched the tie against Suthasini Sawettabut.
- India’s overall medal tally at the Asian Games stands at six, including four silver and two bronze.
India’s women’s table tennis team produced a strong fightback against Thailand on Tuesday to enter the quarterfinals of the Asian Games 2026.
The Indian team overcame a 1-2 deficit and prevailed 3-2 in a tense contest. The victory earned India a place in the last eight, where North Korea awaits.
Yashaswini Ghorpade emerged as a key figure in the comeback. She secured two wins to keep India in contention. Sreeja Akula then completed the job with a 3-1 victory over Thailand’s Suthasini Sawettabut.
Akula defeated the Olympian and Asian Games medallist 9-11, 11-6, 12-10, 11-8 to seal the tie for India.
India Continue Asian Games Table Tennis Medal Hunt
India have won three table tennis medals in Asian Games history. All three have been bronze.
The first came at Jakarta 2018, when India’s men’s team secured the country’s maiden Asian Games table tennis medal.
Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra later added another bronze in mixed doubles.
At Hangzhou 2023, Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee claimed bronze in women’s doubles. Their achievement gave India its first Asian Games medal in that event.
The women’s team’s latest quarterfinal qualification now gives India another opportunity to remain in medal contention at the ongoing Games.
Chetan Bhatt Misses Karate Podium
India’s campaign in karate saw Chetan Bhatt narrowly miss out on a medal in the men’s 84kg kumite.
Bhatt faced Chinese Taipei’s Meng-yu Chu in the bronze-medal bout on Tuesday. The contest ended 1-1, after which Chu secured the victory through Senshu.
Bhatt had earlier reached the semi-finals. He then suffered an 8-0 defeat against Jordan’s Mohammad Alja’Fari.
The result ended Bhatt’s hopes of finishing on the podium in the event.
India Reach Men’s Medley Relay Final
India also progressed to the final of the men’s 4x100m medley relay.
Rohit Benediction, Danush Suresh, Rishabh Das and Akash Mani combined to record a time of 3:40.41s in the heats.
The Indian quartet finished seventh among 16 countries. That performance secured their qualification for the final, which is scheduled for later on Tuesday.
Mixed Results in Soft Tennis
India had contrasting results in soft tennis.
Aadhya Tiwari began her women’s singles Group D campaign with a 4-1 loss to Thailand’s Alisha Ziegler.
Tiwari went down 1-4, 4-0, 4-0, 4-2, 6-4 in the contest. She now needs to defeat Pakistan’s Kainaat Shallwani in her next match to keep her hopes of progressing alive.
Jay Meena, meanwhile, secured his place in the knockout stage after defeating Pakistan’s Hussain Arain 4-0.
Meena won the Group D encounter 4-2, 4-0, 4-2, 4-0. It was his only men’s singles match in the group.
Sepaktakraw Team Faces Elimination
India’s men’s Regu campaign in sepaktakraw is also in danger of ending at the group stage.
The Indian team suffered a 0-2 defeat against Malaysia in its second Group B match. Malaysia won the two games 15-9 and 15-12.
India will now face the Philippines in its final group match on Wednesday. The result will determine the team’s remaining prospects in the competition.
India’s Medal Tally
India have collected six medals so far at the Asian Games 2026.
The tally comprises four silver medals and two bronze medals. With the women’s table tennis team through to the quarterfinals, India remain in contention for another medal in the competition. (Edited by Enewstime Desk)